Open Access

Branched-chain amino acid supplements reduced ascites and increased the quality of life in a patient with liver cirrhosis: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Minoru Itou
    • Takumi Kawaguchi
    • Eitaro Taniguchi
    • Yuichiro Oku
    • Nobuyoshi Fukushima
    • Eiji Ando
    • Tetsuharu Oriishi
    • Yuki Uchida
    • Momoka Otsuka
    • Suiko Tanaka
    • Shoko Iwasaki
    • Mari Torii
    • Kiyomi Yoshida
    • Yuko Adachi
    • Mariko Suga
    • Manami Yoshiyama
    • Ryoko Ibi
    • Yoshiko Akiyama
    • Machiko Takakura
    • Keiichi Mitsuyama
    • Osamu Tsuruta
    • Michio Sata
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 1, 2009     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr_00000201
  • Pages: 977-981
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Abstract

Liver cirrhosis is frequently accompanied by malnutrition and hypoalbuminemia, which in turn commonly induces ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis. Ascites leads to abdominal distention and appetite loss, resulting in a deteriorated quality of life (QOL). Administration of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-rich supplements reduces hepatic encephalopathy and malnutrition. In addition, BCAAs by themselves up-regulate albumin synthesis through an increase in Fisher's ratio. Thus, in patients with liver cirrhosis, BCAA-rich supplements seem to be effective at reducing ascites and improving the QOL. Here, we report the case of a 58-year-old Japanese man with liver cirrhosis with severe ascites and peripheral edema. The hepatic function of the patient was classified as Child-Pugh grade C. To reduce protein-energy malnutrition, BCAA-rich supplements were administered as a late evening snack as part of a regimen including 2000 kcal/day (32.5 kcal/kg/day) of total energy and 83.5 g/day (1.3 g/kg/day) of total protein intake. Eight weeks after admission, ascites and edema had decreased. Nutritional status also improved from the time of admission to discharge; the serum BCAA level increased from 365.4 to 450.2 µmol/l. Furthermore, the ratio of BCAAs to tyrosine (BTR) increased from 1.70 to 3.65. We also evaluated the effects of nutritional therapy on the patient's QOL using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey upon admission and at discharge. All subscores showed marked improvement and reached a level greater than the Japanese norm with nutritional treatment. In conclusion, BCAA supplementation not only reduced ascites, but also improved the QOL in a patient with liver cirrhosis.

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November-December 2009
Volume 2 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Itou M, Kawaguchi T, Taniguchi E, Oku Y, Fukushima N, Ando E, Oriishi T, Uchida Y, Otsuka M, Tanaka S, Tanaka S, et al: Branched-chain amino acid supplements reduced ascites and increased the quality of life in a patient with liver cirrhosis: A case report. Mol Med Rep 2: 977-981, 2009.
APA
Itou, M., Kawaguchi, T., Taniguchi, E., Oku, Y., Fukushima, N., Ando, E. ... Sata, M. (2009). Branched-chain amino acid supplements reduced ascites and increased the quality of life in a patient with liver cirrhosis: A case report. Molecular Medicine Reports, 2, 977-981. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr_00000201
MLA
Itou, M., Kawaguchi, T., Taniguchi, E., Oku, Y., Fukushima, N., Ando, E., Oriishi, T., Uchida, Y., Otsuka, M., Tanaka, S., Iwasaki, S., Torii, M., Yoshida, K., Adachi, Y., Suga, M., Yoshiyama, M., Ibi, R., Akiyama, Y., Takakura, M., Mitsuyama, K., Tsuruta, O., Sata, M."Branched-chain amino acid supplements reduced ascites and increased the quality of life in a patient with liver cirrhosis: A case report". Molecular Medicine Reports 2.6 (2009): 977-981.
Chicago
Itou, M., Kawaguchi, T., Taniguchi, E., Oku, Y., Fukushima, N., Ando, E., Oriishi, T., Uchida, Y., Otsuka, M., Tanaka, S., Iwasaki, S., Torii, M., Yoshida, K., Adachi, Y., Suga, M., Yoshiyama, M., Ibi, R., Akiyama, Y., Takakura, M., Mitsuyama, K., Tsuruta, O., Sata, M."Branched-chain amino acid supplements reduced ascites and increased the quality of life in a patient with liver cirrhosis: A case report". Molecular Medicine Reports 2, no. 6 (2009): 977-981. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr_00000201