Abstract

Author(s): Cortés-García, L

Malnutrition is common in patients with liver cirrosis being a risk factor that increases mortality and the possibility of developing clinical decompensation. It´s important to know the degree of malnutrition in these patients to assess the indication of a nutritional intervention and its effectiveness. Hand grip dynamometer is a suitable test for this purpose. Development of Hepatic Encephalopathy is a relevant situation in the natural history of cirrhosis that requires a number of therapeutic measures, including nutritional intervention. It´s recommended to obtain an adequate daily energy intake (35-40 Kcl / Kg body weight) and protein intake (1.2-1.5 g / kg body weight) and must avoid hipoprotein diets which only aggravate malnutrition and they don´t have beneficial effects on EH. In the other hand, it’s recommended small intakes distributed throughout the day and the use of a late evening snack with complex carbohydrates, as well as the promotion of a diet rich in vegetables and fiber. The use of branchedchain amino acids or probiotics do not currently have sufficient scientific evidence for use in HE.