+Evaluation of Nutritional Intake in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease by Using BMI, SGA and 24-Hour Dietary Recall Over 3 Consecutive Days

Abstract

The Liver is a vital, regenerative organ performing over 500 functions, primarily focused on detoxification, metabolism and energy storage. It also filters blood from the digestive tract, breaks down fats via bile production and converts glucose to glycogen for energy storage and metabolizes drugs and toxins. Liver cirrhosis is the irreversible scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term damage often from chronic hepatitis, alcohol overuse or fatty liver disease. Liver helps to metabolize protein, carbohydrate and fats in the body, that is the reason, the diet pattern of a person get affected. This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of liver cirrhosis patients in SGRD medical college and hospital where patient’s health, nutritional intake and diet pattern was going through many complex changes. Methods: Data on age, demographic distribution, food choices, 24 hrs diet recall was recorded. A Total of 198 patients from 19 yrs to 70 yrs of both males and females having confirmed cases of liver cirrhosis were selected randomly for this purpose from general medicine and gastroenterology department OPD and interview sessions after taking written informed consent from every participant for collection of information. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients, 67% were male and 33% were females. The mean score of age, BMI, calorie and protein intake were (52.16±14.321), (17.5±3.472), (1303.45±363.788), (34.77±14.82) respectively. 56% patients were underweight (BMI was less than 19), only 27% were normal while 17% were overweight (BMI more than 29). sarcopenia was very common among those patients (SGA score A was present in 37 %, SGA-B was in 51% and SGA-C was in 12% patients) due to liver cirrhosis condition. CONCLUSION: Liver cirrhosis affects anthropometry, dietary and clinical outcomes of the patient, early diagnosis and prevention can result in slow progression of disease and less sarcopenia.