title: Role of branched-chain amino acids in liver disease: the evidence for and against.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is ample evidence that patients with liver disease have an ongoing energy and protein catabolism. Nutritional management in these patients must receive high priority. The administration of branched-chain amino acids to patients with liver disease has been a controversial subject. This review is an update on the data available from various studies involving branched-chain amino acids supplementation in patients with chronic liver disease and associated complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review summarizes the results of nutritional interventions involving branched-chain amino acids supplementation carried out in different centres around the world. It is interesting to note that no toxic effects of branched-chain amino acids supplementation have been reported in any of these trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of branched-chain amino acids stimulates hepatic protein synthesis in patients with chronic liver disease and this could contribute significantly to improving their nutritional status, and result in a better quality of life. The beneficial role of branched-chain amino acids supplementation in patients with chronic hepatic encephalopathy has been clearly documented in some studies but the exact mechanism of action is still not clear.
authors.affiliation: Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute for Liver, Renal and Digestive Diseases, Press Enclave Road, New Delhi 110017, India. khannasudeep@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sudeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Sarath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopalan
mesh_terms: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000628:therapy*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain