Late evening snack and oral amino acid capsules improved respiratory quotient and Fischer ratio in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Appropriate nutritional support may improve energy metabolism in alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) patients. We explored the effect of a late evening snack (LES) and oral amino acid (OAA) capsules on energy metabolism and the Fischer ratio in ALC. Ninety-one ALC patients were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups: 31 patients in the LES and OAA group, 32 in the LES group, and 28 controls. Respiratory quotient (RQ), carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO%), fat oxidation rate (FAT%), serum isoleucine and the Fischer ratio were measured at baseline and at months 1, 3, and 6 of follow-up. The RQ in the LES and OAA group was 0.79 ± 0.06, 0.80 ± 0.04, 0.82 ± 0.04, and 0.82 ± 0.04 at baseline and at months 1, 3, and 6 of follow-up, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those in the LES group (P < 0.05). The RQ in the LES group was significantly higher than that in the control group at month 1 and month 6 (P < 0.05). CHO% in the LES and OAA group was significantly increased and FAT% was significantly decreased at month 3 of follow-up (P < 0.05). In the LES and OAA group, serum isoleucine and the Fischer ratio were markedly increased compared with the LES group and control group (P < 0.05). LES can significantly increase the RQ in ALC. LES and OAA were more effective than LES alone in improving serum isoleucine and the Fischer ratio.