Efficacy of long-term dietary restriction of total calories, fat, iron, and protein in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus.
OBJECTIVE
A diet restrictive in total calories, fat, iron, and protein intake reduces serum alanine aminotransferase levels in patients with long-term hepatitis C virus infection. However, whether long-term dietary therapy causes adverse effects such as malnutrition and anemia due to a shortage of energy intake is not clear. We evaluated the balance of energy intake and changes in physical and hematologic indices of nutrition after a long-term dietary therapy.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with long-term hepatitis C virus infection that did not respond to or who were able or unwilling to take interferon therapy were enrolled in this study. Our prescriptions included 7 mg/d or less of iron, 30 kcal. kg(-1). d(-1) of energy, 1.1 to 1.2 g. kg(-1). d(-1) of protein, and a fat energy fraction of 20%. Patients were followed for 24 mo.


RESULTS
Mean body fat percentage was 24.6% at entry and was significantly reduced after the diet prescription. Mean serum ferritin decreased significantly from 376 ng/mL at entry to 141 ng/mL after 24 mo. Mean serum alanine aminotransferase levels decreased significantly from 66 to 49 IU/L. Mean levels of hemoglobin, serum albumin, and cholinesterase did not change significantly during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that restriction of energy, fat, iron, and protein intakes is safely tolerated, so its long-term use should be recommended to patients with long-term infection with hepatitis C virus.
Iwasa
Motoh
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan. motoh@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
Iwata
Kazuko
K
Kaito
Masahiko
M
Ikoma
Jiro
J
Yamamoto
Mika
M
Takeo
Masaki
M
Kuroda
Makoto
M
Fujita
Naoki
N
Kobayashi
Yoshinao
Y
Adachi
Yukihiko
Y
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase