Long-term complementary dietary supplement of vegetable protein may decrease degree of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis can evoke several complications including hepatic encephalopathy. Protein calorie malnutrition is a well-known complication of liver cirrhosis and regulated control of nitrogen balance can be a very important factor. Tofu is a kind of soy protein in several Asian countries which can be a useful alternative of nitrogen balance in liver cirrhosis patients. Researchers prospectively followed up the cirrhotic patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis up to 5 years and compared the changes of grade in hepatic encephalopathy according to the amount of ingestion of tofu. Data showed significantly lower grade of hepatic encephalopathy in the high ingestion group but there were no significant differences in survival at 5 years follow up. Therefore, vegetable protein such as tofu could be an attractive way of improving nutritional quality for cirrhotic patients and to reduce overall treatment costs.