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Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation May Help Prevent Infection in Cirrhotic Patients: Presented at AASLD
By Maria Bishop
BOSTON, MA -- November 5, 2004 -- Oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) may reduce the risk of lethal bacterial infections in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, according to a small-cohort study reported here on November 1st at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Liver Diseases.
Previous research found that phagocytic function of neutrophils is impaired in cirrhotic patients. In this study, a team of researchers from Japan found that BCAA supplementation improved phagocytic function of neutrophils, preventing bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis from developing in patients with cirrhosis -- especially those with decompensated cirrhosis.
In the study, five women with decompensated cirrhosis were treated with 12 g daily of BCAA for 3 months. The women had a median age of 60 years.
Lead researcher Ikuo Nakamura, MD, PhD, Attending Associate, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Omiya Medical Center, Jichi Medical School, Saitama, evaluated phagocytic function and bactericidal activity of neutrophils in peripheral blood as well as Fisher's ratios at baseline and at 1 and 3 months of BCAA supplementation.
Neutrophil phagocytic function improved in 3 of 5 patients at 1 month, and in all patients at 3 months. The changes from baseline were significant at 3 months (P <.05). Fisher's ratios were also significantly increased at 3 months compared with baseline (P <.01).
Although the changes were not statistically different, bactericidal activity was improved in 3 of 5 patients at 3 months. Similarly, serum albumin levels were non-significantly increased at 1 and 3 months in 3 of 5 patients.
The mechanisms of improvement in phagocytic activity in neutrophils as a result of BCAA have yet to be elucidated, Dr. Nakamura noted, adding that further studies should help increase the knowledge base on this subject.
[Presentation title: "Restoration of Phagocytic Function of Neutrophils of Patients With Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis by Oral Supplementation of Branched-Chain Amino Acids." Abstract 808]
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