Nutrition In Liver Disease

Mark Velov Author: Mark Velov Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022
Nutrition In Liver Disease

In this article, learn more about Nutrition In Liver Disease. Abstinence from alcohol is mandatory.

The liver is an organ that performs a variety of functions . It is involved in the synthesis of a number of proteins as well as compounds involved in the digestive process. The participation of the liver in the metabolism and detoxification of the body is active.
 
The reasons leading to damage to its structure and, accordingly, to its dysfunction can be infectious (hepatitis viruses, cytomegalovirus, echinococcus), autoimmune, intoxication (drugs, alcohol) and others. To recover it requires both treatment of the underlying disease and the appointment of an appropriate diet to ensure the intake of the necessary substances and at the same time to limit those that worsen the condition of the liver.
 
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be acute or chronic. According to the stage of the disease, the diet is also determined. In the acute phase, a varied diet is recommended (with a few exceptions), while in chronic hepatitis, especially in cases of cirrhosis - the diet becomes significantly more restrictive.
 
Nutrition in acute hepatitis is not affected by the type of infectious agent. The goal is to get enough carbohydrates, proteins and fats that are needed to repair cells. Limiting fat would be a mistake due to the fact that one of the main building blocks of the hepatocyte membrane is lipopolysaccharides.
 
Only some acute hepatitis occurs with symptoms of jaundice. Bile juice is related to the digestion and subsequent absorption of fats . If there is impaired drainage of bile to the duodenum (the initial part of the small intestine), the absorption of fat is impaired. At the same time, it is difficult to absorb the so-called fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E and K. Undigested fats accelerate the passage of intestinal contents, leading to diarrhea. This is the reason why their intake is reduced to the restoration of bile flow.
 
Patients can consume lean and tender meat, porridge of semolina, rice, buckwheat, but without legumes, which make it difficult to digest due to their richness in fiber.
 
Thiamine (vitamin B1) and folate (vitamin B9) deficiencies are common in patients with hepatitis due to alcohol abuse . Natural sources of folate are leafy vegetables - spinach, lettuce, as well as wholemeal flour, egg yolk, liver and others. Rich in thiamine are brewer's yeast, sunflower seeds, legumes, liver and others.
 
In acute hepatitis, it is necessary to limit alcohol consumption for several months, while in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis this restriction lasts a lifetime.
 
 
If cirrhosis develops against the background of liver inflammation, some dietary restrictions increase. In the presence of ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity), salt intake is limited in order not to increase fluid retention. In cases of hepatic encephalopathy , the intake of proteins is limited , as the impaired function of the liver does not allow it to process the waste products of their metabolism. Through the blood, they reach the central nervous system, where they lead to damage.
 
Chronic liver disease often requires replacement therapy with vitamins and phospholipids in the form of dietary supplements. Teas should be chosen carefully because some herbs can have an adverse effect on the liver and aggravate the symptoms of the disease. 3467
 

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