New support for branched-chain amino acid supplementation in advanced hepatic failure.
Nutritional supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) has been a topic of considerable debate for more than two decades. Several studies have demonstrated that supplementation with BCAA is associated with improvement of the catabolic state commonly seen in people with cirrhosis, whereas other studies have showed an improvement in portosystemic encephalopathy in patients with liver disease. Some studies have also shown there to be no benefit in BCAA supplementation in advanced cirrhosis. A recent large clinical trial showed that long-term BCAA supplementation may be useful in preventing progressive hepatic failure and improving liver function in some patients.
Department of Internal Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Ranjan
R
Mascarenhas
Sohrab
S
Mobarhan
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain