Nutrition metabolism and nutrition support in end-stage liver disease

Abstract

Liver plays a central role in regulation of nutrition. Due to metabolic abnormalities, patients with end-stage liver disease often demonstrate undernutrition, which has a close relationship with the prognosis of the patients. Correct nutritional assessment and nutrition support is therefore very important. Dietary intake alone could not meet the nutritional needs of patients with end-stage liver disease. In recent years, the use of enteral and parenteral nutrition formulation has significantly improved the nutritional status of such patients, but there still lacks a gold standard. How to develop appropriate nutrition support regimens is a challenge for clinicians. This paper summarizes nutrition-related issues in patients with end-stage liver disease, aiming to provide a reference for individualized nutritional intervention for patients with end-stage liver disease. Key words: End-stage liver disease; Nutrition support; Nutrition metabolism