Metabolic disorders in patients with liver cirrhosis

Protein-energy malnutrition is frequently observed in patients with liver cirrhosis, and disorders of protein metabolism and energy metabolism closely correlate with this malnutrition. It has been demonstrated that in the process of protein metabolism, the synthesis and degradation rate of albumin decrease, and its half-life in the blood extends. Regarding energy metabolism, there is no consensus on energy expenditure, but there is a consensus that respiratory quotients are lower in patients with liver cirrhosis than in healthy people. These metabolic disorders also closely correlate with the prognosis of patients. Therefore, for clinicians it is important to improve metabolic disorders in patients with liver cirrhosis. Currently, it is assumed that supplementation with branched-chain amino acids is useful for improving disorders of protein metabolism, and that LES is useful for improving disorders of energy metabolism. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.