| Abstract: | In the past 10 years several controlled studies have been published on the use of oral BCAA supplementation in patients with cirrhosis and chronic encephalopathy. Differences in trial design, end-point and treatment make any meta-analysis of the results impossible. From a review of the literature it appears that BCAA are safe and constitute a useful, non-comagenic source of nitrogen. Their superiority over other nitrogen sources (casein) is doubtful, but in long-term studies there seems to be an advantage in terms of encephalopathy, nutritional parameters and possibly survival. Given their low cost/effectiveness, other studies are justified to identify patients who may benefit most from long-term BCAA treatment. |
