Nutritional Intervention in Chronic Liver Failure

Abstract

Patients suffering from chronic liver failure (CLF) frequently are malnourished and do not achieve an adequate intake of nutrients, in particular protein. Low protein intake and loss of muscle mass and function, termed sarcopenia, are indicators of a poor outcome. CLF patients, therefore, should be screened for risk of malnutrition using a validated tool, and if positive, full assessment of nutritional status is mandatory including search for sarcopenia. The main goal of nutritional intervention is to provide enough protein (1.2-1.5 g × kg^-1 × day^-1) and to ensure adequate energy intake (total energy 30 kcal × kg^-1 × day^-1; 1.3 × resting energy expenditure). Livers of CLF patients are deplete in glycogen and, therefore, prolonged periods of fasting (>12 h) must be avoided in order to prevent further breakdown of muscle protein for gluconeogenesis. Therefore, late evening snacks or even nocturnal oral nutritional supplements improve total body -protein status and thus, are recommended. Nutrition intervention should be stepped up from nutrition counselling to oral nutritional supplements, to enteral tube feeding, or to parenteral nutrition as appropriate. As in other malnourished patients, the prevention of refeeding syndrome or vitamin/trace element deficiency should be taken care of.

Keywords: Chronic liver failure; Malnutrition; Nutritional intervention; Sarcopenia.