Clinical nutrition in liver cirrhosis

Abstract:

Undernourishment or malnutrition is a frequent problem in patients with liver cirrhosis. Assessment of nutritional status should be performed in every chronic patient with severe liver function impairment. Depending on the stage of the disease and individual needs of the patient, energy and protein intake requirements should be assessed in accordance with standardized recommendations. Nutritional support for patients with liver cirrhosis often includes highly sophisticated forms of clinical nutrition using either enteral or parenteral route. Preference is given to enteral or oral nutrition, whereas parenteral route is used only when enteral feeding is not possible. The aim of clinical nutrition is to improve the nutritional status of the patient by timely provision of appropriate amounts of energy and proteins in order to influence the outcome of the treatment. 

Key words:
liver cirrhosis; enteral nutrition; nutritional status; parenteral nutrition