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The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support
Second Edition Rifat Latifi Digital Instant Download
Author(s): Rifat Latifi
ISBN(s): 9781570595950, 157059595X
Edition: 2ed.
File Details: PDF, 2.47 MB
Year: 2003
Language: english
LANDES LANDES
BIOSCIENCE V ad e me c u m BIOSCIENCE V ad e me c u m
Table of contents (excerpt)
1. Clinical Implications
of Carbohydrate, Proteins,
Lipids, Vitamins and Trace
7. Protein Metabolism in Liver
and Intestine During Sepsis:
Mediators, Molecular Regulation,
The Biology and Practice
Elements in Nutrition Support and Clinical Implications of Current Nutritional
2. Current Nutrient Substrates
3. Biochemistry of Amino Acids:
8. Biochemical Assessment and
Monitoring of Nutritional Status Support
Clinical Implications
4. Acute Phase Proteins
9. Optimizing Drug Therapy
and Enteral Nutrition: Detecting 2nd edition
Drug-Nutrient Interactions
in Critically Ill Patients
10. Techniques and Monitoring
5. Arginine Metabolism of Total Parenteral Nutrition
in Critical Care and Sepsis
11. Radiologic Assessment
6. Wound Healing and the Role of Nutritional and Metabolic
of Nutrient Substrates Status
12. Enteral Nutrition: Indications,
Monitoring and Complications
The Vademecum series includes subjects generally not covered in other handbook
series, especially many technology-driven topics that reflect the increasing
influence of technology in clinical medicine.
The name chosen for this comprehensive medical handbook series is
Vademecum, a Latin word that roughly means “to carry along”. In the Middle
Ages, traveling clerics carried pocket-sized books, excerpts of the carefully
transcribed canons, known as Vademecum. In the 19th century a medical publisher
in Germany, Samuel Karger, called a series of portable medical books
Vademecum.
The Landes Bioscience Vademecum books are intended to be used both in the
training of physicians and the care of patients, by medical students, medical house
staff and practicing physicians. We hope you will find them a valuable resource.
LANDES
BIOSCIENCE
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS
U.S.A.
VADEMECUM
The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support, 2nd Edition
LANDES BIOSCIENCE
Georgetown, Texas U.S.A.
ISBN: 1-57059-595-X
While the authors, editors, sponsor and publisher believe that drug selection and dosage and
the specifications and usage of equipment and devices, as set forth in this book, are in accord
with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication, they make no
warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to material described in this book. In view of the
ongoing research, equipment development, changes in governmental regulations and the
rapid accumulation of information relating to the biomedical sciences, the reader is urged to
carefully review and evaluate the information provided herein.
Dedication
Ezra Steiger
Cleveland Clinic Hospital
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
Chapter 8
Foreword
It has been over 35 years since Dudrick et al described the growth of
beagle puppies fed intravenously demonstrating normal weight gain and
normal growth compared to their orally fed counterparts. This major achieve-
ment is worthy of all the accolades that have been heaped on Drs. Dudrick,
Rhoades and Vars for this work done at the University of Pennsylvania.
These studies demonstrated for the very first time that one could grow an
animal from a young age by administration of all nutrients by vein. This
study in animals was followed shortly thereafter in 1967 by the birth of a
young child with intestinal atresia. She was treated for well over a year with
intravenous nutrition demonstrating normal growth. Studies such as these
were replicated in a whole variety of clinical situations such as trauma, can-
cer, inflammatory bowel disease, radiation enteritis, G-I fistula and poor
wound healing.
Major achievements by Dr. Dudrick were not only to initiate a new therapy
and bring it from the laboratory to the clinical bedside but also to refine the
technique such that it could be applied with low morbidity. The develop-
ment of nutrition support teams and the development of the American So-
ciety of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition were created by the concept of
teaching proper nutritional support throughout the world. Teams of doc-
tors, nurses, dietitians and pharmacists as well as others came together in
hospitals to administer parenteral and enteral nutrition. Utilization of teams
minimized complications and maximized effectiveness.
The decade of the 1970’s was marked by the ever-increasing use of
parenteral nutrition demonstrating its metabolic efficacy in terms of weight
gain, serum protein metabolism, wound healing and improvement in out-
come. Prospective randomized trials were then begun and carried through
into the 1980’s evaluating the use of parenteral nutrition compared with
other modalities in situations of cancer treatment.
The use of crystalline amino acids replaced protein hydrolysates. Fat emul-
sions were refined and brought into general use. Multi-vitamin preparations
were better defined along with micronutrient requirements. These studies
were painstaking occurring in both animal models and in humans, but they
were necessary as new nutrient administration techniques gave rise to vita-
min and mineral deficiencies. Early recognition of these problems led to
their solution.
The decades of the 1980’s and 1990’s demonstrated efficacy of certain
specific amino acids that would provide either metabolic fuels such as
glutamine for the intestinal track and for muscle as well as specific amino
acids such as arginine that might enhance immune effector cell function.
Omega-3 fatty acids, use of RNA and use of specific vitamins and minerals
were demonstrated to enhance immunological cell function. We entered an
age of nutrient pharmacology as noted by Dr. J. Wesley Alexander. Prospec-
tive randomized trials of enteral and parenteral nutrition were carried out in
elective surgery patients as well as critically ill patients in the intensive care
unit. These studies focused not only on clinical outcome measures but also
focused on cost efficiencies. Again, use of nutritional support teams in hos-
pitals minimized morbidity using nutritional support.
Drs. Latifi and Dudrick have superbly put this text, “The Biology and
Practice of Current Nutrition Support”, together. The chapters vary from
methods of assessing and monitoring nutritional status to those of the use of
intravenous and enteral nutritional support. Practical chapters define
laparoscopic placement of feeding tubes as well as the use of a variety of nutri-
tional substrates, which can be administered in different clinical scenarios.
Of particular importance, is the chapter on nutritional metabolic man-
agement of the short bowel syndrome. Dr. Dudrick was the first to propose
the use of long-term intravenous nutritional support for patients with short
gut syndrome and defined quite well the metabolic needs of these patients.
Many were kept alive for long periods of time by their intestinal tract to adapt
and finally giving way to combinations of enteral and parenteral nutrition.
There is no question that the discovery, implementation and utilization of
total parenteral nutritional support have made enormous benefits to our
patients; saving lives and improving clinical outcome. The recent death of
Dr. Jonathan E. Rhoads, former Chairman of the Department of Surgery at
the University of Pennsylvania and mentor to Dr. Stanley J. Dudrick exem-
plifies the value of an inquisitive mind and the strength of working in part-
nership with many others to achieve beneficial outcomes.
Overview
Malnutrition occurs in 30-50% of hospitalized patients admitted to acute care
hospitals.1 Patients who are malnourished or are at malnutrition risk usually have
risk factors or disease co-morbidities, any and all of which, unattended, may ad-
versely affect the outcomes of the surgical patient. Severe malnutrition is usually
easily recognized merely by extreme or significant weight loss, loss of strength, and
loss of function. Identifying severe malnutrition in a timely manner, then, should
lead to appropriate intervention.1,2 Nevertheless, that is not always the case, and
malnutrition of moderate degree is often unnoticed at the time of admission. It is
especially important for surgeons to be aware of the risk of malnutrition, particu-
larly in the geriatric patient, because of the very strong association between malnu-
trition and postoperative complications.3,4 Malnutrition occurs with co-morbidities
and is a significant co-morbidity. The surgeon also has to be concerned with the
effects of the metabolic requirements for acute injury independent of and interact-
ing with a malnourished state.
The Malnutrition Risk
The problem of unrecognized patient risk is tied to our conception and defini-
tion of the malnutrition risk. Increasingly, the risk of malnutrition is viewed in
terms of unexpected complications, such as, pneumonia, urinary infection, sepsis,
systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which lends itself to expression
in statistical terms. That has not always been the case.
Definitions of Malnutrition
We traditionally make a distinction between marasmus, or chronic inanition
and kwashiorkor. Marasmus is starvation with loss of fat stores and skeletal muscle,
but sparing of circulating transport proteins produced by the liver. Kwashiorkor is
defined by the decrease in circulating plasma proteins. These concepts fit neatly into
measurement criteria using anthropometrics and the laboratory, but they don’t em-
body the dynamic changes of the critically-ill patient. We refine our concept of the
high risk surgical patient, in particular, by reviewing the metabolic response to stress
injury.
The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support, 2nd Edition, edited by Rifat Latifi
and Stanley J. Dudrick. ©2003 Landes Bioscience.
2 The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support
Suppressed Syntheses
The stress response immediately suppresses synthetic activity by the liver,9 an
organ that has a sole synthetic function with NADP dominated pathways. The se- 1
rum cholesterol decreases as does the production of essential transport proteins,
such as, albumin, transferrin, cortisol-binding globulin (CBG), thyroxine-binding
globulin (TBG), transthyretin or thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TTR), insulin
growth-factor 1 (IGF1).9 While the transport proteins decline abruptly by as much
as 40%, the synthesis of APRs is unaffected. Their essentially controlling and adap-
tive role they exert through their binding to and effects on active ligands.
Nutritionally-Dependent Adaptive Dichotomy (NDAD)
The above relationship, under the influence of cytokines, Ingenbleek refers to as
the nutritionally-dependent adaptive dichotomy (NDAD).9 One has to also con-
sider that this adaptive relationship in stress injury is affected by protein malnutri-
tion prior to the injurious state. Why? Because the basal level of binding proteins is
set low and the adaptive response is blunted.
Free Ligands and the Adaptive State
The metabolic effect of stress injury in the catabolic phase increases the flow of
fuel substrates for energy using processes by its effect on the liver. The decrease in
CBG, TBG, TTR and RBP increases the hypermetabolic effect. The free hormone
hypothesis states that hormonal effect on target tissue is a result of the free hormone.
The adrenal gland is releasing increased cortisol which has an amplified effect with
it’s binding to a lower plasma concentration of CBG. The liver is the repository for
extrathyroidal T4. The extrathyroidal T4 is released with a decreased circulating TBG
and TTR.9 The result is an increased thyroidal activity measured by an increased
free T4 (FT4). This is actually what is referred to as the sick euthyroid syndrome. The
TSH is not affected or slightly decreased, but not in the hyperthyroid range. Vita-
min A is stored in the liver, and it is transported in the circulation in a complex with
TTR and RBP. The vitamin A and RBP are dependent on the level of TTR.
Effect of Stress Injury on Liver Syntheses
The metabolic effect of stress injury on the liver is coupled with the reciprocal
effect of GSH.9 The decreased synthesis of GSH dependent IGF1 occurs with a
high level of GSH. The IGF1 promotes anabolism and protein retention. The result
is an increase of lipid utilization with a breakdown of lean body mass to support
gluconeogenesis. The IGF1 is bound to IGF1 binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), which
is unaffected by stress. The decreased level of IGF1, which has a short halflife of 8
hours, results in a decrease in the free and active protein, supporting the increased
catabolism.
Energy Requirements of Injured Man
Proteolysis and Nitrogen Loss
The hypermetabolism as it affects protein metabolism is measured by the break-
down of skeletal muscle and the oxidation of amino acids through alanine to
alpha-ketoglutarate in the Krebs cycle.7,8 This results in the release of the amino
group and the production of urea nitrogen through the urea cycle. The somatic
protein loss is also associated with the release of 3-methyl histidine, an amino acid
specific for skeletal muscle that is excreted into the urine with urea nitrogen.
4 The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support
Cuthbertson described the catabolic loss of nitrogen that cccurs with severe
injury and is associated with skeletal muscle wasting, loss of strength, and attrib-
1 uted to extensive breakdown of muscle.7,8 The increased rate of metabolism in stress
injury is measured by the rate of protein oxidation and by the rate of CO2 produc-
tion. The rate of protein oxidation is measured by the rate of nitrogen appearance
in the urine. There is normally 4 grams of unmeasured nitrogen to be accounted for
in 24 hours, so the total nitrogen is calculated from urinary urea nitrogen by adding
4 grams, assuming that the nonurea nitrogen is negligible.
Nitrogen Loss and Gluconeogenesis
The rate of gluconeogenesis is decreased in normal man, a nitrogen sparing
effect, when 6-10 grams of carbohydrate is provided. The rate of gluconeogenesis is
not increased in starvation as the body economy relies on lipolysis and fatty acid
fuels associated with ketogenesis. These patients have a normal or decreased urinary
nitrogen. The rate of gluconeogenesis is accelerated during the acute catabolic state,
even when glucose is provided. This is unabated, though, by providing exogenous
glucose.10 The loss of nitrogen with trauma or sepsis is related to the extent of the
injury.7,8 Nitrogen balance studies measure nitrogen equilibrium, which is the net
loss or gain of protein from the body.11 The nitrogen loss after severe injury is
proportional to the severity and extent of trauma, and it tapers off in days. Indeed,
the nitrogen loss is greatest with severe trauma and delayed refeeding. The net ac-
cretion of body protein in the reparative phase is slow in the post-injury phase and
has been measured by Hill and associates using whole body neutron activation
analysis.12 Anabolism with refeeding occurs at a constant rate of 3 gm of nitrogen
(20 gm protein) per 70 kg body weight per day, but muscle activity is required for
rebuilding the loss.12
Stress Metabolism of Carbohydrate and Fat
Stress injury results in alterations in carbohydrate and fat utilization. Adipose
tissue is converted to fatty acids and glycerol as described above. Fatty acids are
oxidized by non glucose-dependent tissues. The glycerol is and unoxidized ketones
are used as a glucose fuel. As the concentration of plasma glucose rises in severe
injury, the hyperglycemia is related to crude muscle losses with increased urinary
nitrogen loss. The site of injury is supported by the breakdown of whole body
protein to support the immune response. This is not associated with a lack of insu-
lin, but with increased activities of counterregulatory hormones opposing the insu-
lin action.9 Fat is not utilized as the primary fuel in the extensively injured extremity
because of the shift to glycolytic metabolism in the injured tissue associated with
increased production of lactate.7-9 A significant amount of glucose production by
the liver is from lactate and pytuvate as the wound metabolizes glucose.
Measuring Energy Expenditure
Indirect calorimetry and tracer techniques are used to study substrate oxidation
in vivo.10,13,14 The latter requires blood sampling and is only used in the research
setting. CO2 production is used to measure substrate oxidation and energy expen-
diture by indirect calorimetry from measurement of respiratory gas exchange rates.
The method assumes the CO2 expired is proportional to the rate of respiration.
The assumption depends on the O2 disappearing from the inspired air being used
exclusively for biological oxidations so that all the CO2 expired is derived from
Clinical Implications of Nutrition Elements 5
Nutritional Requirements
1 Energy Requirements Under Stress
The calorie and protein requirements for stressed patients are shown in Table
1.1. For normal energy needs 100-150 g of CHO must be furnished daily. Glucose
oxidation under normal conditions is at approximately 2-4 mg/kg/min, and in
severe stress is only slightly greater at 3-5 mg/kg/min. Catabolism of peripheral
muscle and lipolysis release carbohydrate and lipid substrates in severe stress (14).
An excess of 400-500 g of glucose per day is not used. However, administration of
carbohydrate as a sole energy source has a calorigenic effect, increasing the utiliza-
tion of fuel by about 20% over REE. Protein sparing by glucose is abrogated by
severe stress.
Protein Requirements
Protein is required for growth, maintenance and repair of tissue. 6.25 grams of
protein has one gram of nitrogen. Nitrogen balance occurs when protein synthesis
and breakdown are in equilibrium. Dietary protein contains 20 common amino
acids of which nine are essential. The recommended dietary allowance of protein
for an adult (non pregnant or lactating) is 0.8 g/kg/day. In the catabolic phase of
acute stress or trauma, protein requirements are increased at 1.5 to 2.0 g/kg/day or
more for wound repair, or to replace protein lost in drainage of exudate. The provi-
sion of adequate calories and protein is mandatory.
Fat Requirements
35% of diet intake as fat is required for energy and for essential fatty acids.
EFAD occurs at a ratio of 0.4 or greater. Linolenic acid deficiency is characterized
by: growth retardation, scaly dermatitis, and alteration of the normal triene:tetrene
ratio. Linoleic acid is derived from linoleic and may be derived exogenously. Oils as
corn, soy and safflower contain 50-70% of their fat as linolenic. Linoleic acid is a
precursor of arachidonic acid, which is needed for prostaglandin and thromboxane
synthesis. Most lipid emulsions presently available are composed for the most part
of long chain triglycerides (LCT). Complications from use of LCTs include com-
promised immune function, hyperlipidemia, impaired alveolar diffusion capacity,
and reduced function of the reticulo-endothelial system.
Minerals and Trace Elements
The macronutrients, water and electrolytes constitute the major part of nutri-
ent intake, regardless of the route of administration. The major minerals—calcium,
phosphorus, and magnesium, and electrolytes—sodium, potassium and chloride
must be provided. They are essential for neuromuscular, cardiac, endocrine and
skeletal function. Potassium is the main intracellular cation and it is in equilibrium
with sodium, divalent cations, and anions. Its intracellular concentration is 140
mmol/L. The total body potassium is 71 mmol/kg. The total body potassium is
depleted in malnourished surgical patients, and it is disproportionately reduced
compared with nitrogen. It is increased with short term TPN without increasing
the total body nitrogen, but long term feeding also increases nitrogen.11 It is impor-
tant to keep in mind the following:
1. glucose infusions increase the need for K+;
2. there is a retention of 3 meq K+ per gm of nitrogen;
Clinical Implications of Nutrition Elements 7
TTR decreases at a rate of 0.8 to 1.5 mg/dl per day, depending on the level of stress with no
oral feeding. It doubles in a week with nutritional support.
finding for a burn patient because the patient can’t hold a graft. A TTR of less than
5 mg/dl is severe protein depletion. A case study illustrates its advantage.
Case Example
An 88-year old woman with lower GI bleeding associated with perforated di-
verticulitis had a surgical resection and proximal diverting colostomy with a some-
what complicated recovery. She was maintained on PPN initially and changed to
central TPN day 13 when she had an obstruction that resolved by day 20 after the
small bowel was decompressed.
Postoperative Day
Test 1 13 16 26 Reference range
ALB, g/L 27 25 25 27 35-55
TTR, mg/L 72 121 160 205 160-350
Information Model
Getting the Most Out of Information
I previously referred to the concept of syndromic classes.16,17 Even though it is a
formal idea that is measurable, it is not important for surgeons to feel a deficiency
of knowledge with unfamiliarity with this. The truth of the matter is that you use it
often in practice. Clinical decisions are made by observing data from laboratory
and clinical findings together.
The evaluation of nutritional status is somewhat refined by an information model.
The model is derived from the fundamental theory of communication, which uses
Clinical Implications of Nutrition Elements 11
TTR. The K+, Mg2+ and H2PO32- are intracellular cations and anion, respectively.
They move into the cell and out of the circulation with refeeding. They are critical
for excitation-contraction coupling, and failure to monitor these can result in sud- 1
den death. In the case of magnesium, the serum level is not an accurate measure of
the total body load. A patient with tetany may have low calcium concentration, but
if the calcium fails to resolve this, than administration of magnesium is the best test.
Table 1.8 lists the requirements for monitoring phosphate levels. The lowering of
serum phosphorus levels leads to a decrease in ATP and other phosphorylated com-
pounds in the tissues and blood. When the serum level falls to 1.0 mg/dl or lower,
leukocyte dysfunction and a potential for sepsis occurs. In addition, reduced nucle-
otide production due to hypophosphatemia can result in hemolytic anemia, neuro-
muscular dysfunction, myocardial depression and respiratory failure. Adequate
treatment of the severely malnourished patient requires adequate nutritional sup-
port with careful monitoring. Repletion must be initiated slowly while monitoring
serum phosphorus, along with serum electrolytes, glucose, and magnesium levels.
Quality Management
Excess LOS variation is a global outcome variable. It is dependent on extended
period after surgery without oral intake (Meguid’s IONIP), initial condition, unex-
pected complication (wound site infection, pneumonia), and malnutrition. The ef-
fect of nutritional status is independent and interacts with the other factors. The
laboratory tests predict outcome by forming severity classes. Mozes et al22 recently
classified surgical and nonsurgical major diagnostic categories into groups homoge-
neous with respect to LOS from seven laboratory values (wbc, Na, K, CO2, BUN,
HCT, ALB) for 73,117 admissions at UCSF and Stanford. Studies have shown that
Hb, cholesterol23 and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)24 are predictors of mortal-
ity. Nutritional markers are important tests in any analysis.
Quality Management has to focus on medical outcomes of alternative strategies,
i.e., feeding, not feeding, delayed intervention, and the costs of interventions. Policy
considerations are the organizational purview of a Nutrition Committee and the
Nutrition Support Team. The cost of data collection can be significant. The cost of
prevention, with an effect on under- and over-utilization, can be less than the cost of
failure to develop a system. The use of the laboratory has a low cost in supporting a
system of quality management.
The information model has been used to determine optimum decision-values
for tests, and has been used to examine the relationship between tests, malnutrition
and LOS. It can be used to examine differences in the effects of interventions. Not
all interventions can be assumed to be equivalent. Preoperative feeding for five days
before a major procedure assumes utilization costs that have a different significance
for marginally than severely at risk patients. Perioperative interventions, intrave-
nous and enteral, are uniquely identified input variables. In addition to the assign-
ment of treatment effects, it is necessary to identify the initial pretreatment condition
as distinguished from the treatment effects. Therefore, laboratory data need to be
adequate to examine post-treatment status. These can be described in the form of a
truth table with each defining variable as a column and each patient as a row.
It is important to recognize that a quality improvement model for nutritional
interventions has to take into account the expectations of costs to do nothing, the
expected costs of alternative interventions, and the costs reduced by failure avoid-
ance. Traditional cost accounting models are not adequate for the complexity
of the issues.
14 The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support
15. Jeejeebhoy KN, Baker JP, Wolman SL et al. Critical evaluation of the role of clini-
cal assessment and body composition studies in patients with malnutrition after
total parenteral nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr 1982;35:1117-27.
1 16. Spiekerman AM, Rudolph RA, Bernstein LH. Determination of malnutrition in
hospitalized patients with the use of group-based reference. Arch Path Lab Med
1993; 117:184.
17. Rypka EW. Methods to evaluate and develop the decision process in the selection
of tests. In: McPherson RA, Nakamura RM, eds. Clinics in laboratory medicine.
Laboratory immunology II. Strategies for clinical laboratory management. Vol 12.
Philadelphia: Saunders, June 1992:351.
18. Rudolph RA, Bernstein LH, Babb J. Information-Induction for the diagnosis of
myocardial infarction. Clin Chem 1988; 34:2031-2038.
19. Shaw-Stiffel TA, Zarny LA, Pleban WE et al. Effect of nutrition status and other
factors on length of hospital stay after major gastrointestinal surgery. Nutr Int
1993; 9:140-145.
20. Bernstein LH, Shaw-Stiffel T, Zarny L et al. An information approach to likeli-
hood of malnutrition. Nutrition 1996; 12(9/10):772-776.
21. Bernstein LH (Chairman). Prealbumin in Nutritional Care Consensus Group. Mea-
surement of visceral protein status in assessing protein and energy malnutrition:
Standard of care. Nutrition 1995; 11:169-171.
22. Mozes B, Easterling MJ, Sheiner LB et al. Case-mix adjustment using objective
measures of severity: The case for laboratory data. Health Services Research 1994;
28[6]:689-712.
23. Verdery RB, Goldberg AP. Hypocholesterolemia as a predictor of death: a prospec-
tive study of 224 nursing home residents. J Gerontol:Med Sci 1991; 46:M84-M90.
24. Sullivan DH. The role of nutrition in increased morbidity and mortality. (Review)
Clin Geriatric Med 1995; 11:661-74.
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
Introduction
Traditionally, nutrition support was simply the provision of calories and protein.
More recently, however, we have discovered that manipulation of certain nutrients
may significantly alter the response to illness and facilitate the healing process. These
findings suggest that patient-specific feeding with nutrient-specific formulas may
hold promise for improved patient outcome. This chapter discusses some of the
advantages and disadvantages of administering certain nutrient substrates, specifically
branched-chain amino acids, arginine, glutamine, nucleotides, and lipids.
Hepatic Disease and Stress: Branched-Chain Amino Acid
Enriched Diets
Hepatic Disease
The discovery of altered plasma amino acid concentrations (low branched-chain
amino acids and high aromatic and sulfur- containing amino acids) in patients with
hepatic encephalopathy prompted the development of branched-chain enriched
parenteral and enteral formulas. These formulas differ from conventional amino
acid formulas in that they contain a greater concentration of the branched-chain
amino acids (BCAA) leucine, valine, isoleucine and a lower amount (or none) of the
aromatic amino acids (AAA) phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and the
sulfur-containing amino acid methionine. The modified amino acid profile in these
solutions is thought to counterbalance the altered plasma amino acid concentra-
tions seen in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. These plasma amino acid alter-
ations are a result of an increased utilization of BCAA by the peripheral muscles and
a decreased metabolism of the AAA by the failing liver.
The use of BCAA-enriched formulas in patients with encephalopathy is based
predominantly upon the AAA/false neurotransmitter theory.1 Fischer postulated that
the decrease in BCAA and increase AAA plasma concentrations seen in patients
with hepatic dysfunction allows a disproportionate amount of AAA to cross the
blood brain barrier. As a result, there is an increase in serum levels of “false neu-
rotransmitters” (octopamine and phenyethylanine) and a concomitant decrease in
the levels of normal neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine). In addition,
there is an increased serum serotonin concentration (physiologic neuroinhibitor)
due to excess tryptophan. This altered ratio of BCAA to AAA is believed to contribute,
in part, to the development of encephalopathy. It was Fisher and colleagues who
first noted that the administration of BCAA-enriched, low AAA solutions to animals
The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support, 2nd Edition, edited by Rifat Latifi
and Stanley J. Dudrick. ©2003 Landes Bioscience.
18 The Biology and Practice of Current Nutritional Support
and humans with hepatic encephalopathy resulted in more normal patterns of plasma
amino acid concentrations and an improvement in encephalopathy.2,3
A number of prospective, randomized clinical trials have investigated the use of
parenteral BCAA solutions when hepatic encephalopathy is present.3,4-6 Most of
these trials have shown no significant change in mental status. It is important to
2 note, however, that many of the early trials used solutions containing only BCAA as
opposed to the BCAA-enriched, low AAA formulas typically used today. In an early
multicenter, prospective, randomized trial, 34 patients with cirrhosis of the liver
(predominantly cryptogenic) and grade III to IV hepatic encephalopathy received
either an intravenous solution containing 60 g of BCAA only in 20% dextrose or
lactulose (30-40 g every 4 hours via a nasogastric tube or 200-300 g/day via in-
termittent rectal enemas) plus 20% dextrose.4 Seventy percent of the patients
receiving the BCAA solution regained consciousness (defined as grade 0 hepatic
encephalopathy) within 48 hours compared to only 47% in the lactulose group.
Although this difference was not statistically significant, the authors concluded that
parenteral administration of BCAA is at least as effective as lactulose in ameliorating
the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy. Interestingly, these authors found no cor-
relation between the modifications in plasma amino acid levels and an improvement
in the patient’s mental status. Instead, they noted a significant decrease in plasma
ammonia levels in both groups at the time of mental recovery. Since lactulose is
believed to work by binding excess ammonia, these results suggest that BCAA may
favorably impact on hepatic encephalopathy, at least in part, by decreasing free
plasma ammonia levels.
Wahran, et al5 also noted a slight improvement in responsiveness in patients
with hepatic encephalopathy who received a BCAA parenteral solution. In this
prospective, double-blind trial, 50 cirrhotic patients with acute hepatic encephal-
opathy (grade II to IV) were randomized to receive either an amino acid free
parenteral solution consisting of dextrose and lipids or the same solution with the
addition of 40 g of a 100% BCAA solution. The carbohydrate and fat portions of
each parenteral solution were isocaloric and provided 30 kcal/kg. In addition, all
patients were prohibited from taking any food by mouth. Although the patients in
the BCAA-treated group showed a statistically significant improvement in their
plasma BCAA to AAA ratios (1.10 ± 0.08 to 1.96 ± 0.22), this ratio never returned
to a normal ratio of 3.0 to 3.5. Fifty-six percent of the patients receiving the BCAA
solution demonstrated an improvement in encephalopathy compared to 48% in
the control group. This difference, however, was not statistically significant. As the
authors readily pointed out, this study had two major shortcomings. First, patients
with active gastrointestinal bleeds were not excluded from the study; a complication
that may worsen encephalopathy. Second, twice as many patients in the control
group received systemic antibiotics which would theoretically decrease the amount
of enteric bacteria and their byproducts and subsequently ameliorate hepatic en-
cephalopathy.
The largest and most complete prospective, double-blind trial was a multicenter
study done by Cerra and colleagues.6 Seventy-five patients with acute hepatic en-
cephalopathy (grade II or higher; average grade 2.65) due to chronic hepatic disease
(85% alcoholic cirrhosis) were randomized to receive either oral neomycin or a
branched-chain enriched (36%) parenteral solution low in AAA and methionine.
Patients with acute viral hepatitis, acute fulminant hepatitis, hepatorenal syndrome,
significant gastrointestinal bleeding, nonhepatic coma and patients requiring
Current Nutrient Substrates 19
severe fluid restriction were excluded from the study. The control group received
25% dextrose intravenously plus oral neomycin (4 g daily divided into 4 doses)
whereas the treatment group received a daily infusion of the branched-chain en-
riched parenteral solution plus placebo tablets. Oral intake was restricted in both
groups until the encephalopathy had resolved. A maximum daily protein intake of
1.1 g/kg was reached by day 3 and was well tolerated in the group receiving the 2
BCAA-enriched solution. Despite receiving what some clinicians would consider a
high protein load for this patient population, 53% of the patients in the BCAA
group demonstrated complete resolution of their encephalopathy compared to only
17% of the patients in the control group (p<0.05). Not suprisingly, net protein
catabolism was decreased in the group being fed as evidenced by a positive nitrogen
balance by day 4. The group not being fed protein remained in negative nitrogen
balance throughout the study. Moreover, 55% of the patients in the control group
died whereas only 17% of the patients receiving the BCAA-enriched solution died
(p<0.01). These results suggest that administration of BCAA-enriched parenteral
solutions in amounts that provide at least 1 g protein/kg/day is well tolerated in
cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy, and may improve mental status and
survival. There are, however, some researchers who contend that the improved sur-
vival may have been a result of providing nutritional support in these critically ill
patients rather than due to the BCAA-enriched solution itself.7
The disparity between the results of these clinical trials may be partially due to
differences in experimental design, patient population, type and amount of BCAA
solution administered, as well as diversity of the control group (Table 2.1). It has
been suggested that because Cerra and collegues6 excluded patients with serious
complications (i.e., fulminant hepatitis, hepatorenal syndrome, etc.) that would not
be expected to improve by changing the serum BCAA to AAA ratio that this may
explain why the results of their study differed from others.8 Interestingly, none of
the studies shown in Table 2.1 compared a BCAA solution to a conventional parenteral
amino acid solution. There are, however, several enteral studies that have addressed
this issue.
Eriksson and collegues9 were among the first to investigate the use of a BCAA
formula delivered orally. Seven patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatic en-
cephalopathy (grade I to II) participated in a 28 day study with a cross-over design.
Patients received each of the following oral supplements, in addition to their regular
diet, for a 14 day period: a BCAA solution containing BCAA only (30 g protein/
day) or a placebo solution devoid of amino acids. The results failed to demonstrate
a significant improvement in mental status when patients consumed the BCAA
solution instead of the placebo (43% vs 29%, respectively). These findings have
been substantiated by several other small, prospective cross-over studies.10,11
In contrast, Horst, et al12 noted a significant worsening of mental status in cir-
rhotic patients with encephalopathy receiving a standard oral diet containing a maxi-
mum of 80 g protein/day compared to those receiving a standard oral diet, restricted
to 20 g protein/day, supplemented with an oral BCAA-enriched (35% BCAA) solu-
tion, low in AAA that provided up to a maximum of 60 g protein/day.
Most of the clinical trials using oral BCAA examined the efficacy of using these
formulas over a short time period (i.e. less than one month). Thus, in an attempt to
evaluate the long-term effects of using BCAA during hepatic encephalopathy,
Marchesini, et al13 conducted a multicenter prospective, randomized, double-blind
trial in which patients were followed for a three-month period. Sixty-four cirrhotic
2
20
Table 2.1. Parenteral BCAA clinical trials
The Lord water the ground where lie buried the heroes of
Irâc
Upon the dusty plain and beneath the sandy mounds!
[198]
[199] This is almost the only mention made of Aly during Abu
Bekr’s Caliphate, excepting when he gives advice in the Caliph’s
Council, marries a new wife, or purchases some attractive bond-
maid. In such a self-indulgent life, he was becoming portly and
inactive.
[200] I.e. of the Muhâjerîn or Ansâr; that is, the Coreish, on the
one hand, and the natives of Medîna on the other.
[201] The following is an outline of the narrative, as given by
the Arab historians. On Shahrîrân’s death, after the battle of
Babylon (summer of a.d. 634), Dokht Zenân, daughter of
Chosroes (Perwîz), for a brief period, and then Sapor, son of
Shahrîrân, occupied the throne. The latter gave the hand of
Azarmîdokht, another daughter of Chosroes, to his favourite
minister Furrukhzâd. But she resented the alliance; and, at her
call, the hero Siâwaksh slew the intended husband on the
marriage night, besieged the palace, and, putting Sapor to death,
proclaimed Azarmîdokht queen. Such was the state of things
when Mothanna, in August, went to Medîna. During his absence,
Burân, another daughter of Chosroes, having great influence with
the nobles, summoned the warrior Rustem from Khorasan to
avenge the death of his father, Furrukhzâd, which he did most
effectually—defeating the royal troops, killing Siâwaksh, and
putting out Azarmîdokht’s eyes; and then he set Burân upon the
throne. Her regency (such was the ordinance) should continue
ten years, in default of any prince being discovered of the royal
blood; after which, the male line being proved extinct, the dynasty
would be confirmed in the female line. Burân then appointed
Rustem her minister, with supreme powers, and the nobles rallied
round him. This was just before Abu Obeid’s appearance on the
stage.
The chronology, however, is utterly confused and uncertain.
This Burân is said to have opposed Shîra (Siroes) for a year; and,
when he finally succumbed to have retained her authority as
arbiter (àdil) in the State. She is also said to have sent gifts to
Mahomet, &c. But so much we may assume as certain that
between Perwîz (a.d. 628) and Yezdegird there was an interval of
four and a half years. See Weil’s Chalifen, vol. i. p. 64, and Tabari,
vol. ii. p. 178.
[202] The Persian campaign begins now to assume greater
consistency and detail; but, partly from alteration of the river beds,
and partly from the sites of towns, &c., being no longer known, it
is not always easy to follow the course of the campaign.
Namârick, the scene of Abu Obeid’s first victory, was on the
Bâdacla, or western branch of the Euphrates. Jabân was there
taken prisoner; but the captors, not recognising his rank,
ransomed him in exchange for two skilled artisans. Mothanna,
discovering his quality, would have put him to death for the
deception, but Abu Obeid stood by the ransom. ‘The faithful are
one body,’ he said, ‘and quarter given by any one of them must be
sustained by all; it would be perfidy to put him to death.’ He was
therefore let go; but being again laid hold of after the battle of the
Bridge, was then executed. The second engagement took place
at the royal date-preserve of Sakatia, near Kaskar (subsequently
the site of Wâsit). Abu Obeid, hearing that Jalenûs was on his
way with supports, hurried on and gave battle to Narsa before he
came up. Expeditions were then sent to Barôsama and the
country around.
[203] Called also Dzú Hâjib.
[204] It was twelve cubits long and eight broad.
[205] The common tradition is that Ibn Salûba, Chief of Hîra
(as a kind of neutral), constructed the bridge for both sides. The
account given by Belâdzori is more probable, that it was a
standing bridge belonging to Hîra, as it would be chiefly for its
use. The Moslems crossed at Marwaha, near Babylon. The action
must therefore have been fought on the banks of the main river,
and not on the western channel.
[206] Dates now begin to be given, but the chronology is still
very doubtful. One authority places the battle forty days after that
of Wacûsa on the Yermûk—that is to say, seven or eight weeks
after Abu Bekr’s death. But in the interval between that event and
the present battle, there took place Abu Obeid’s protracted march,
the battle of Namârick and the expeditions following it, the
gathering of Jabân’s army and its march, all which must have
occupied at the least two months, and probably a good deal
more.
[207] A marvellous vision was seen by the wife of Abu Obeid.
A man descended out of heaven, having a pitcher in his hand, out
of which he gave drink first to her husband, and then, one after
another, to several warriors of his tribe. She told Abu Obeid, who
answered that he wished it might be a token of impending
martyrdom to him and them. He then appointed each of the
warriors, in turn, whom she had named, to succeed him if he fell;
and so it turned out. Abu Obeid cut at the lip of the elephant,
being told (erroneously) that it was the part where a mortal blow
could most easily be struck.
[208] The same clan as Abu Obeid’s.
[209] The depth is as much as fifteen feet, and it runs at the
rate of one and a half to three knots an hour. (Rich’s Travels.) The
banks, however, are not so high, nor is the current so rapid, as of
the Tigris.
[210] The remarkable fact of a Christian chief, Abu Zobeid, of
the Beni Tay, being, not only on the Moslem side, but taking so
prominent and brave a part in the defence of the broken force, is
noticed both by Ibn Athîr and Belâdzori. We shall see how largely
Mothanna was indebted to Christian help in the next decisive
battle.
[211] Firuzân was the name of the insurgent. But, with the
exception that the nobles sacrificed the empire to intrigue and
jealousies, we are much in the dark as to the inner history of
Persia at this time. There were two parties, we are told, the
Persians proper, or the national faction, which supported Firuzân;
and the other nationalities, Rustem. But they soon coalesced.
[212] See above, pp. 128, 129.
[213] Sura, viii. v. 14.
[214] The names of the tribes now flocking to the war are,
many of them familiar to the reader of the Prophet’s life; as the
Beni Hantzala, Khátham, Abd al Cays, Dhabha. The Beni Azd
were 700 strong, under Arfaja.
These levies are represented as the response to the present
summons of Omar, now made afresh after the battle of the
Bridge; but erroneously so, for they reached Mothanna at once,
and fought under his banner within a month of that disaster. It
took some time for the fresh levies to gather, as we shall see.
[215] The history of this contingent is interesting. Mahomet
had promised Jarîr that he should have a commission to gather
the scattered members of the Beni Bajîla into a fighting column.
Jarîr followed Khâlid into Irâc, and then returned to Medîna,
where he found Abu Bekr sick, or too much occupied to attend to
his claim. But after his death, Omar, in fulfilment of the Prophet’s
promise, gave him letters to the various governors to search out
everywhere those who, before Islam, belonged to the Bajîla tribe,
and still desired to be associated with it. A great rendezvous of
these was accordingly made, at a spot between the Hejâz and
Irâc, whither, yielding to the persuasion of Omar, they now bent
their steps. There was rivalry between Jarîr and Arfaja as to the
command of this tribe; but the levy had some grudge against
Arfaja, who therefore left them and took the command of his own
tribe, the Beni Azd. Arfaja is also said, by another tradition, to
have led the Beni Bajîla into Syria; but that (if true) must have
been a different body of men, and at a different time.
[216] The tradition runs: ‘Among those who joined Mothanna
was Anis ibn Hilâl, with an immense following of the Beni Namr
(Christians); for they said, We shall surely fight on the side of our
own people.’
[217] Rustem and the insurgent Firuzân had come to a
compromise, and agreed, we are told, to a division of power.
[218] Mehrân is called Hamadâny, because he was a native of
that province. He is said, as on the former occasion, to have
given Mothanna the option of crossing by the bridge.
The channel was the Bâdacla, which is here described as a
spill canal to pass off the surplus waters of the Euphrates when in
flood, into the Jowf or sea of Najaf—the same as the western
branch of the river taken off (as already described) by the cut at
Museyib, above Babylon. Boweib was not far from Hîra, the
inhabitants of which must have been in much excitement during
this and other great battles in the vicinity, on which their
alternating fate depended.
[219] ‘Mothanna was an example,’ we are told, ‘in word and
deed. The people trusted and obeyed him both in what they liked
and what they disliked’—a noble, single-minded commander,
whose repeated supersession had no effect upon his loyalty and
zeal.
[220] ‘I brought the army,’ Mothanna said, ‘to an evil pass by
getting before the enemy and closing the bridge upon him; but the
Lord graciously warded off the danger. Beware, therefore, of
following my example, for verily it was a grievous lapse. It
becometh us not to bar the escape of those who have nothing to
fall back upon.’ It will be observed that the compunction was not
at all for any unnecessary bloodshed among the helpless enemy
(an idea altogether foreign to the thoughts of a Moslem crusader),
but of gratuitous loss and risk to the Moslems. It may have added
to Mothanna’s grief that in repelling this last charge he lost his
brother. The slain are put at 100,000. ‘Years after, even in the
time of the civil wars, you could not walk across the plain without
stumbling on the bones strewed all around.’
[221] The horse and spoil of Mehrân were awarded to the
column in which this youth was fighting. Jarîr and another had a
quarrel over them. Had the youth been a Mussulman, no doubt he
would have obtained the whole as a prize.
[222] His own tribe, the Beni Bekr ibn Wâil.
[223] Amr went on with supplies to Hîra, where the rest of the
families were in hiding. The female defenders of their camp
remind one of Layard’s description of a similar occasion on which
the women of an Arab encampment rushed out to repel an attack,
armed with tent-poles and pitchforks. (Nineveh and Babylon, p.
168.)
[224] It would unnecessarily weary the reader to detail these
raids at any length. Some of them were against other and hostile
branches of the very Christian tribes that had fought at the Bridge
and at Boweib on the Moslem side; some were to obtain supplies
for the army, which was reduced at one time to great extremities
for food; but most were for the double purpose of striking terror
into the people, and at the same time gaining plunder. On one
occasion the Beni Bekr ransomed a great company of prisoners
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