title: Effect of long-term late-evening snack on health-related quality of life in cirrhotic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients with liver cirrhosis, abnormal energy metabolism induces low health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores. However, late-evening snack (LES) prevents morning starvation in cirrhotic patients. Our aim is to assess the effect of long-term LES on HRQOL in cirrhotic patients, using the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) health survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine cirrhotic patients classified as Child-Pugh grade A were recruited. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: 24 were assigned to the non-LES group and 15 to the LES group. SF-36 scores, anthropometric data and serum biochemical parameters were examined in the non-LES and LES groups at 0, 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither anthropometric data nor laboratory data showed significant differences between the non-LES and the LES groups at 0, 6 and 12 months. The role-emotional (RE) HRQOL scores at 6 months and mental health (MH) scores at 6 and 12 months were significantly reduced from the baseline level in the non-LES group. In contrast, these scores remained unchanged in the LES group. General health perception (GH) scores at 12 months, RE at 6 months and MH at 6 and 12 months in the LES group were significantly higher than those of the non-LES group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term LES administration may be helpful in maintaining higher HRQOL in patients with cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisami
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamanaka-Okumura
authors.forename: Taki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morine
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takeda