Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Supplementation on the Progression of Advanced Liver Disease: A Korean Nationwide, Multicenter, Prospective, Observational, Cohort Study

Jung Gil Park; Won Young Tak; Soo Young Park; Young Oh Kweon; Woo Jin Chung; Byoung Kuk Jang; Si Hyun Bae; Heon Ju Lee; Jae Young Jang; Ki Tae Suk; Myung Jin Oh; Jeong Heo; Hyun Young Woo; Se Young Jang; Yu Rim Lee; June Sung Lee; Do Young Kim; Seok Hyun Kim; Jeong Ill Suh; In Hee Kim; Min Kyu Kang; Won Kee Lee

doi:10.3390/nu12051429

Nutrients (May 2020)

Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Supplementation on the Progression of Advanced Liver Disease: A Korean Nationwide, Multicenter, Prospective, Observational, Cohort Study

Jung Gil Park,
Won Young Tak,
Soo Young Park,
Young Oh Kweon,
Woo Jin Chung,
Byoung Kuk Jang,
Si Hyun Bae,
Heon Ju Lee,
Jae Young Jang,
Ki Tae Suk,
Myung Jin Oh,
Jeong Heo,
Hyun Young Woo,
Se Young Jang,
Yu Rim Lee,
June Sung Lee,
Do Young Kim,
Seok Hyun Kim,
Jeong Ill Suh,
In Hee Kim,
Min Kyu Kang,
Won Kee Lee

Affiliations

Jung Gil Park: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, Korea
Won Young Tak: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
Soo Young Park: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
Young Oh Kweon: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
Woo Jin Chung: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea
Byoung Kuk Jang: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea
Si Hyun Bae: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Heon Ju Lee: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, Korea
Jae Young Jang: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul 04401, Korea
Ki Tae Suk: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
Myung Jin Oh: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Gumi Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Gumi 39295, Korea
Jeong Heo: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan 49241, Korea
Hyun Young Woo: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan 49241, Korea
Se Young Jang: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
Yu Rim Lee: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
June Sung Lee: Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang 10380, Korea
Do Young Kim: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Seok Hyun Kim: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Choungnam National University, Daejeon 61469, Korea
Jeong Ill Suh: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 39067, Korea
In Hee Kim: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Chungju 54907, Korea
Min Kyu Kang: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, Korea
Won Kee Lee: Medical Research Collabration Center in KNUH and School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051429
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 5
p. 1429

Abstract

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Background and Aims: Clinical evidence for the benefits of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is lacking in advanced liver disease. We evaluated the potential benefits of long-term oral BCAA supplementation in patients with advanced liver disease. Methods: Liver cirrhosis patients with Child–Pugh (CP) scores from 8 to 10 were prospectively recruited from 13 medical centers. Patients supplemented with 12.45 g of daily BCAA granules over 6 months, and patients consuming a regular diet were assigned to the BCAA and control groups, respectively. The effects of BCAA supplementation were evaluated using the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, CP score, serum albumin, serum bilirubin, incidence of cirrhosis-related events, and event-free survival for 24 months. Results: A total of 124 patients was analyzed: 63 in the BCAA group and 61 in the control group. The MELD score (p = 0.009) and CP score (p = 0.011) significantly improved in the BCAA group compared to the control group over time. However, the levels of serum albumin and bilirubin in the BCAA group did not improve during the study period. The cumulative event-free survival was significantly improved in the BCAA group compared to the control group (HR = 0.389, 95% CI = 0.221–0.684, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Long-term supplementation with oral BCAAs can potentially improve liver function and reduce major complications of cirrhosis in patients with advanced liver disease.

Published in Nutrients

ISSN: 2072-6643 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients

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