Abstract
Malnutrition and cognitive dysfunction are typical features of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and are correlated with the development of complications. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of nutritional state and diet on cognitive function in ALD. A total of 43 patients with compensated alcoholic cirrhosis were enrolled, and a neuropsychological test was assessed according to body mass index (BMI, <22 and ≥22). In the ALD animal study, mice were divided into five groups (n = 9/group; normal liquid, 5% EtOH + regular liquid, 5% EtOH + high-carbohydrate liquid, 5% EtOH + high-fat liquid, and 5% EtOH + high-protein liquid diet) and fed the same calories for eight weeks. To assess cognitive function, we performed T-maze studies weekly before/after alcohol binging. In cognitive function (BMI < 22/≥22), language score of Korea mini-mental state (7.4 ± 1.4/7.9 ± 0.4), Boston naming (11.7 ± 2.7/13.0 ± 1.8), forward digit span (6.7 ± 1.8/7.5 ± 1.6), Korean color word stroop (24.2 ± 26.5/43.6 ± 32.4), and interference score (33.9 ± 31.9/52.3 ± 33.9) revealed significant differences. In the T-maze test, alcohol significantly delayed the time to reach food, and binge drinking provided a temporary recovery in cognition. The alcohol-induced delay was significantly reduced in the high-carbohydrate and high-fat diet groups. Synaptic function exhibited no changes in all groups. Cognitive dysfunction is affected by nutritional status and diet in ALD.
Highlights
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the third most common cause of chronic liver disease and shows high mortality rate worldwide [1]
The aim of this study is to explore the effect of nutrition on cognitive function in ALD
A high BMI is related with brain atrophy and cognitive dysfunction in some brain diseases [19,20,21,22]
Summary
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the third most common cause of chronic liver disease and shows high mortality rate worldwide [1]. The number of alcohol-related mortality reaches about at 2.5 million annually, occupying 4% of all deaths worldwide [2]. Alcohol abuse among social subjects is common and occurs more frequently. It is associated with cognitive impairment and independently with short- and long-term mortality [5]. Most patients with ALD consume a deficient diet and exhibit malnutrition [6]. Malnutrition is one of the major complications of ALD that has been studied recently, especially in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis [7]. Malnutrition worsens clinical outcome in ALD, and nutritional support improves nutritional status and may improve clinical outcome
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