Preoperative Oral Supplementation With Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) Improves Postoperative Quality of Life

Patients with cirrhosis of the liver complicated with HCC are often in a state of protein energy malnutrition. A limited number of studies have indicated an important role for nutritional support in the surgical management of patients who have undergone hepatic resection for HCC. In a preliminary study, we reported the clinical efficacy of supplementation with branched-chain amino acids in a small number of patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent hepatic surgery for HCC. The aims of this study are (1) to study the benefit of branched-chain amino acids enriched nutrient-mixture by analyzing a variety of clinical parameter, including laboratory data, the duration of hospitalization after the surgery, and (2) To investigate the postoperative QOL in receiving peri-operatively branched-chain amino acids enriched nutrient-mixture in patients who undergone the hepatic management for HCC with chronic liver disease.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who underwent elective liver resection for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma or adenocarcinoma with chronic liver diseases.

Exclusion criteria

• Body weight loss greater than 10 per cent during the 6 months prior to surgery,
• The presence of distant metastases, or seriously impaired function of vital organs due to respiratory, renal or heart disease.