Short-term effects of branched-chain amino acids on liver function tests in cirrhotic patients.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
;
2000 Mar; 31(1): 152-7
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-35077
ABSTRACT
A randomized study was conducted in 29 ambulatory cirrhotic patients to determine the short-term effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on nutritional status, biochemical liver function tests and caffeine clearance. Each patient received a 4-week period of isonitrogenous and isocaloric regimens, either a standardized diet contained 40 g protein with supplementation of BCAA 150 g daily (group I) or only a standardized diet contained 80 g protein daily (group II). At the end of treatment, only group I showed significant improvements in transaminase levels as well as the caffeine clearance test compared with those of the pre-treatment levels. Nonetheless, significant improvements in nutritional parameters and additional liver function tests were not yet detected. We conclude that the short-term nutritional supplementation of BCAA is well tolerated and leads to improvement in hepatic metabolic capacity assessed by the caffeine clearance test.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Aspartate Aminotransferases
/
Time Factors
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Caffeine
/
Nutritional Status
/
Adult
/
Alanine Transaminase
/
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
Type of study:
Controlled clinical trial
Language:
English
Journal:
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Year:
2000
Type:
Article
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