title: Effect of Oral Supplementation with Branched-chain Amino Acid (BCAA) during Radiotherapy in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Double-Blind Randomized Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated whether oral supplementation with a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) improves the biochemical and amino acid profiles of liver tumor patients undergoing radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: a group given oral supplementation with BCAA granules (LIVACT granules; Samil Pharm Co., Korea, each granule containing L-isoleucine 952 mg, L-leucine 1,904 mg, and L-valine 1,144 mg) during radiotherapy, or a placebo group. Physical and biochemical examinations and measurements, including subjective symptoms, Child-Pugh class, body mass index, plasma albumin concentration, and plasma amino acid profiles were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty were enrolled between November 2005 and November 2006. We also analyzed data from 37 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in order to evaluate a more homogenous group. The two groups of patients were comparable in terms of age, gender, Child-Pugh score, and underlying hepatitis virus type. Serum albumin, total protein, liver enzymes, and cholesterol showed a tendency to increase in the BCAA group. In this group, the percentage of cases that reverted to normal serum albumin levels between 3 and 10 weeks after administration of BCAA was significantly higher (41.18%) than in the placebo group (p=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral supplementation with a BCAA preparation seems to help HCC patients undergoing radiotherapy by increasing the BCAA concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ik Jae
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinsil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Jung Im
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Sei Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Yumie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Jong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee