Liver cirrhosis and metabolism (sugar, protein, fat and trace elements)

The metabolism of various nutrients in the liver indicates the presence and severity of liver disorder, and can also reveal suitable nutritional treatment strategies. This paper overviews chronic liver disease, investigates nutritional therapy and the role of malnutrition in patients with liver disease, and analyzes metabolism in the diseased liver of amino acids (BCAA etc.), carbohydrates and fats, with special attention to the metabolism of trace elements for diagnostic, surveillance and treatment. Trace elements play an essential role in maintaining vital functions, and excess or deficiency leads to metabolic disorders. To investigate the effect of trace element concentrations in liver disorders, we conducted tests comparing the concentrations of trace elements among patients at various stages of chronic liver disease, and found a significant correlation between trace element metabolism and disease presence and progression. There is also a correlation between serum trace element concentrations and metalloprotein concentrations in the body, imbalances in which play a role in chronic liver disease. Excess or deficiency can be rectified for improvement of chronic liver disease. Because trace element concentrations are markers of oxidative stress levels in the liver, analysis of the concentrations can also be used for diagnosis of liver disease as well as indicating the effectiveness of antioxidant therapy. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.