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Effects of branched-chain amino acids supplementation on patients undergoing hepatic intervention: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2023

Yan-Mei Hsu ,
Hui-Chung Kuan ,
Yu-An Chen ,
Ching-Wen Chiu ,
Po-Cheng Chen  and
Ka-Wai Tam Open the ORCID record for Ka-Wai Tam [Opens in a new window]
Yan-Mei Hsu
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Hui-Chung Kuan
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Administration, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yu-An Chen
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ching-Wen Chiu
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Po-Cheng Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Urology, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Ka-Wai Tam*
Affiliation:
Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan Center for Evidence-Based Health Care, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
*
*Corresponding authors: Po-Cheng Chen, email b90401049@ntu.edu.tw; Ka-Wai Tam, email kelvintam@h.tmu.edu.tw
*Corresponding authors: Po-Cheng Chen, email b90401049@ntu.edu.tw; Ka-Wai Tam, email kelvintam@h.tmu.edu.tw
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Abstract

The benefits of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) administration after hepatic intervention in patients with liver diseases remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of BCAA on patients undergoing hepatectomy, trans-arterial embolisation and radiofrequency ablation. Relevant randomised controlled trials (RCT) were obtained from PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled effect size by using random-effects models. The primary outcomes were survival and tumour recurrence. The secondary outcomes were hospital stay, nutrition status, biochemistry profile, complication rate of liver treatment and adverse effect of BCAA supplementation. In total, eleven RCT involving 750 patients were included. Our meta-analysis showed no significant difference in the rates of tumour recurrence and overall survival between the BCAA and control groups. However, the pooled estimate showed that BCAA supplementation in patients undergoing hepatic intervention significantly increased serum albumin (mean difference (MD): 0·11 g/dl, 95 % CI: 0·02, 0·20; 5 RCT) at 6 months and cholinesterase level (MD: 50·00 U/L, 95 % CI: 21·08, 78·92; 1 RCT) at 12 months and reduced ascites incidence (risk ratio: 0·39, 95 % CI: 0·21, 0·71; 4 RCT) at 12 months compared with the control group. Additionally, BCAA administration significantly increased body weight at 6 months and 12 months and increased arm circumference at 12 months. In conclusion, BCAA supplementation significantly improved the liver function, reduced the incidence of ascites and increased body weight and arm circumference. Thus, BCAA supplementation may beneficial for selected patients undergoing liver intervention.

Keywords

Branched-chain amino acidsLiver diseaseHepatocellular carcinomaNutrition
Type
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 131 , Issue 2 , 28 January 2024 , pp. 276 - 285
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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Footnotes

†

These authors equally contributed to this work.

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