Role of branched‐chain amino acids in management of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Altered protein and energy metabolism is a hallmark of chronic liver disease, characterized by decreased plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and increased plasma aromatic amino acids (AAA). Overwhelming evidence has indicated that the incidence of complications of chronic liver disease increases with malnutrition. Hence nutritional management in patients with chronic liver disease must receive high priority. The use of BCAA supplementation has been a controversial subject. This review summarizes published results of BCAA supplementation as a nutritional therapy for patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). On balance, it would be appropriate to conclude that BCAA are associated with decreased frequency of complications of cirrhosis and improved nutritional status when prescribed as a maintenance therapy for patients with cirrhosis. More studies are, however, required to identify those who might benefit most from BCAA supplementation.

Metabolomics Analysis of the Responses to Partial Hepatectomy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

“…Lipid peroxidation could be controlled by carnitine, thus the increased rate of lipid peroxidation as the feedback revealed depletion of carnitine could cause metabolic shifts in relative pathways. Similarly, two kinds of LysoPCs (16:0 and 18:2) were found with increased concentrations but carnitine with decreased concentration in the intestinal fistulas patients [31]. Furthermore, It was elevated hypoxanthine in purine metabolism that was observed in post-hepatectomy groups from Table 1, suggesting that the purine biosynthesis could be substituted by the salvage pathway after the operation [32].…”

Importance of branched-chain amino acids in patients with liver cirrhosis and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

“…These might contribute it to extension of survival time. Vincent et al reported a decreased frequency of LC complications and an improved nutritional status when BCAA were prescribed as maintenance therapy for LC patients [28]. They also reported that nutritional supplementation with oral BCAA is beneficial for increasing the serum albumin level, reducing morbidity, and improving quality of life in patients undergoing TACE for HCC [29].…”

Expression of apolipoprotein M in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues

“…HCC is one of the most common malignant tumors in China, however, the etiological factors of HCC in China differ from those in the developed countries (Moore et al, 2004). HCC in China is commonly associated with hepatitis B (Zhiqiang et al, 2004), and a large proportion of the HCC patients in China are commonly accompanied by other chronic liver diseases (Cao et al, 2009;Jiang et al, 2009;Lam and Poon, 2008). It is well known that chronic liver diseases can interfere with hepatic metabolism of lipids, lipoproteins and/or apolipoproteins, as most plasma endogenous lipids and lipoproteins are synthesized by the liver, which depends on the integrity of liver cell function.…”