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The effect of branched-chain amino acids on body protein breakdown and synthesis in patients with chronic liver disease

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Advances in Clinical Nutrition

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Abstract

Abnormal patterns of plasma amino acids are common in patients with liver disease1–5 and can be corrected by the administration of both branched-chain enriched amino-acid solutions6–9 or the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) alone10,11. These solutions have been reported as valuable in hepatic encephalopathy6,7,9 in restoring the profile of plasma amino acids towards normal6,8–11 and improving nitrogen balance6,7,11. There is also evidence that nitrogen losses are reduced following injury in patients or animals with normal liver function given branched-chain amino acids. The effect recorded appears to be out of proportion to the nitrogen content of the infusions13. O’Keefe et al.15 investigated the effect of oral BCAA on body protein metabolism in liver disease and reported that turnover, breakdown and synthesis were diminished.

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Authors
  1. J. D. Holdsworth
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  2. M. B. Clague
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  3. P. D. Wright
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  4. I. D. A. Johnston
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

    Ivan D. A. Johnston

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© 1983 MTP Press Limited

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Holdsworth, J.D., Clague, M.B., Wright, P.D., Johnston, I.D.A. (1983). The effect of branched-chain amino acids on body protein breakdown and synthesis in patients with chronic liver disease. In: Johnston, I.D.A. (eds) Advances in Clinical Nutrition. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5918-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5918-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-5920-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5918-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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