Impact of protein intake on sarcopenia in patients with chronic liver diseases

Abstract

Aim: To clarify the significance of nutrition therapy in patients with chronic liver diseases based on the relation between the extent of sarcopenia and daily protein intakes.

Methods: Subjects were 122 Japanese patients with chronic liver diseases consisting of 37 patients with sarcopenia and 85 patients without sarcopenia. Percentages of patients taking foods containing protein of the recommended amount or more were compared between those with and without sarcopenia.

Results: Daily volume of protein intakes (mean ± SD) were 47.4 ± 13.0 g and 54.4 ± 16.2 g in patients with sarcopenia and in those without sarcopenia, respectively. Daily protein intakes of the recommended amounts or more were achieved in 10 patients with sarcopenia, while in 47 patients without sarcopenia. Thus, percentages of patients taking foods containing sufficient protein were significantly lower in the former patients than in the latter patients (27.0% vs. 47.1%, P＝0.0386).

Conclusions: Nutrition therapy is required for patients with chronic liver diseases manifesting sarcopenia, since daily protein intakes were insufficient in these patients.