Branched-chain amino acids in liver diseases

Table 1 Prospective randomized trials of branched-chain amino acid administration for advanced liver diseases

Object	Time	No.	Major outcome	Ref.
Cirrhosis	2 yr	646	Improve event-free survival and QOL. Increase serum albumin levels.	[43]
Cirrhosis (advanced)	1 yr	174	Improve event-free survival. Lower hospital admission. Improve the Child-Pugh score and QOL.	[44]
Cirrhosis (decompensated)	24 wk	281	Increase serum albumin levels.	[45]
Cirrhosis	2 yr	65	Maintain serum albumin levels.	[46]
Cirrhosis (early)	2 yr	65	Maintain serum albumin levels.	[49]
Cirrhosis	3 mo	48	Increase serum albumin levels. Improve energy metabolism.	[51]
Cirrhosis (HCV)	168 wk	39	Reduce hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with compensated cirrhosis with a serum albumin level of < 4.0 g/dL.	[69]
Cirrhosis (HCV, obese)	2 yr	622	Reduce hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with BMI of 25 or higher and with an alpha-fetoprotein level of 20 ng/mL or higher.	[68]
Cirrhosis (pre liver transplant)	3.3 yr	50	Preserve hepatic reserve functions. Lower complications associated with cirrhosis.	[99]
Cirrhosis after an episode of HE	56 wk	116	Not decrease recurrence of HE. Improve minimal HE and muscle mass.	[64]
Cirrhosis after hepatectomy	1 yr	43	Improve hepatic metabolism after hepatectomy. Inhibit progression to cirrhosis.	[74]
HCC after hepatectomy	6.5 mo	56	Reduce early recurrence of HCC.	[75]
HCC after hepatectomy	12 wk	44	Shorten hospital stay. Quicker improvement of liver functions.	[76]
After hepatectomy	12 mo	76	Improve post operative QOL.	[77]
HCC after RFA	12 mo	35	Improve nutritional state and QOL.	[78]
HCC after RFA	12 wk	30	Improve liver functions.	[79]
HCC undergoing chemoembolization	12 mo	84	Increase serum albumin levels, reduce morbidity, and improve QOL.	[81]
HCC undergoing chemoembolization	2 wk	56	Prevent reduction of liver functions.	[82]
HCC during radiotherapy	10 wk	30	Increase serum albumin levels.	[84]

QOL: Quality of life; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; HCC: Hepatocellular caricinoma. RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.