title: Short-term effects of branched-chain amino acids on liver function tests in cirrhotic patients.
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.
authors.affiliation: Departmemt of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tangkijvanich
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mahachai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wittayalertpanya
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ariyawongsopon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isarasena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002110:Caffeine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D002110:Caffeine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase