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Controlled Trial on Nutrition Supplementation in Outpatients With Symptomatic Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Author(s)
Sandra Hirsch
Hospital San Borja Arriarán
Daniel Bunout
Hospital San Borja Arriarán
Pı́a de la Maza
Hospital San Borja Arriarán
H Iturriaga
Hospital San Borja Arriarán
Margarita Petermann
University of Chile
Gloria Icazar
University of Chile
V Gattás
University of Chile
Hospital San Borja Arriarán
Date Issued
1 de marzo de 1993
Type
Article
Volume
17
Issue
2
Series/Report No.
Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Start Page
119
End Page
124
ISSN
0148-6071
1941-2444
Abstract
A controlled trial on nutrition supplementation in ambulatory patients with decompensated alcoholic liver disease was carried out during 1 year. Fifty-one patients were studied; 26 were assigned to an experimental group receiving a daily supplement of 1000 kcal and 34 g of proteins given as a casein-based enteral nutrition product and 25 to a control group receiving one placebo capsule. Patients were examined in a special clinic once a month or more if required. Sixty-eight percent of patients admitted to alcohol ingestion or had alcohol in urine samples on at least one occasion. Dietary recalls showed a significantly higher protein and caloric intake in case patients subjects (p < .0001). Nine patients died during the study, three case patients and six control patients (p = NS). The frequency of hospitalizations was significantly less in the experimental group. This difference was attributed to a reduction in severe infections. Mid-arm circumference, serum albumin concentration, and hand grip strength improved earlier in case patients, although both groups had a significant improvement in these parameters. Bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase decreased and prothrombin time increased significantly in both groups during the study period, without differences between groups. It is concluded that nutrition support decreases nutrition-associated complications in patients with alcoholic liver disease.
Keywords