title: Vegetarian diets in hepatic encephalopathy: facts or fantasies?
abstract: Diet treatment characterized by a reduction in or a selection of food proteins is currently suggested in hepatic encephalopathy. This article is a review of the present knowledge about the characteristics and the rationale of vegetarian diets in cirrhotic patients with overt or latent encephalopathy. In addition, evidence relating diet and encephalopathy and the nutritional features and needs of cirrhotic patients is reported. Finally, the rationale of a diet based on vegetable and milk-derived proteins that may overcome the limits and the possible adverse effects of a strict vegetarian diet is presented.
authors.affiliation: Dept Medicine V, Clinical Nutrition, University of Padua, Italy. piero.amodio@unipd.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caregaro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pattenò
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Piccolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatta
mesh_terms: D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000178:diet therapy; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D008894:Milk Proteins; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary