Vegetarian diets in hepatic encephalopathy: facts or fantasies?

• Published in: Digestive and Liver Disease Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 492 - 500
• Main Authors: Amodio, P, Caregaro, L, Pettenó, E, Marcon, M, DelPiccolo, F, Gatta, A
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2001
• Subjects: Diet, Protein-Restricted; Diet, Vegetarian; hepatic encephalopathy; Hepatic Encephalopathy - diet therapy; Humans; liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - diet therapy; Milk Proteins - administration & dosage; nutrition; Nutritional Requirements; Nutritional Status; Vegetable Proteins - administration & dosage; vegetable-rich diets; AAA; PS; EEG; number connection test; vegetable-rich diets; branched-chain amino acids; liver cirrhosis; electroencephalogram; nutrition; aromatic amino acids; hepatic encephalopathy; HE; BCAA; portal-systemic; NCT
• ISSN: 1590-8658; 1878-3562
• DOI: 10.1016/S1590-8658(01)80028-1

Diet treatment characterized by a reduction in or a selection of food proteins is currently suggested in hepatic encephalopathy. This article is a review of the present knowledge about the characteristics and the rationale of vegetarian diets in cirrhotic patients with overt or latent encephalopathy. In addition, evidence relating diet and encephalopathy, and the nutritional features and needs of cirrhotic patients is reported. Finally, the rationale of a diet based on vegetable and milk-derived proteins that may overcome the limits and the possible adverse effects of a strict vegetarian diet is presented.