Nutrition as a Part of Therapy in the Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Poor nutritional status is related to worse prognosis and increases the mortality rates in liver cirrhosis. Malnutrition is usual in patients and is associated with a poor outcome. Nutritional support decreases nutrition- associated complications. The dietary intake of patients is generally characterized by high levels of carbohydrate, fat, protein and cholesterol. Therefore, careful investigation of dietary habits could lead to better nutrition therapy in liver cirrhotic patients. The liver cirrhotic patients are malnourished due to presence of anorexia, vomiting and other gastrointestinal disorders. Hence, nutritional support is also required during therapy to prevent undernourishment, treatment interruption, and improve the quality of life. Some patients with liver cirrhosis have decreased dietary energy and protein intake, while the number of liver cirrhotic patients with overeating and obesity is increasing, indicating that the nutritional state of liver cirrhotic patients has a broad spectrum. Therefore, nutrition therapy for liver cirrhotic patients should be planned on an assessment of their complications, nutritional state, and dietary intake. Late evening snacks, branched-chain amino acids, zinc, vitamin and mineral supplementation, medium chain triglycerides, vegetable protein and probiotics are considered for effective nutritional utilization. Keywords: