Free fatty acid as a marker of energy malnutrition in liver cirrhosis. Issue 2 (18th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hanai, Tatsunori; Shiraki, Makoto; Nishimura, Kayoko; Imai, Kenji; Suetsugu, Atsushi; Takai, Koji; Shimizu, Masahito; Naiki, Takafumi; Moriwaki, Hisataka
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 44:Issue 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 228
• Publication Date: 2013-04-18
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12112
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hepr12112-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>Protein–energy malnutrition is frequently observed in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Non‐protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) measured by indirect calorimetry is a good marker to estimate energy malnutrition, and predicts the prognosis of patients with LC. However, measurement of npRQ is limited because of the high cost of indirect calorimetry. Our aim was to find out an alternative marker to npRQ that can be used in the routine clinical setting.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12112-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>One hundred and fifty‐six patients with LC were enrolled in this study. Indirect calorimetry and blood examinations were conducted after overnight fasting, and anthropometry was performed by an expert dietician. The correlation between npRQ and other parameters were calculated by simple and multiple regression analysis. Receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis was used to identify the cut‐off value that would best predict the threshold npRQ of 0.85.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12112-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Plasma levels of free fatty acid (FFA) was significantly correlated with npRQ value by simple (<italic>r</italic> = −0.39, <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001) and multiple regression analysis (<italic>t</italic> = −2.96, <italic>P</italic> = 0.0052). Free fatty acid rose in parallel with the increasing disease severity as defined by Child–Pugh classification (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05). FFA was also correlated with increasing oxidation rate of fat (<italic>r</italic> = 0.38, <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001) and decreasing oxidation rate of carbohydrate (<italic>r</italic> = −0.39, <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). The cut‐off value of FFA to predict npRQ = 0.85 was 660 μEq/L by ROC analysis.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12112-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>FFA is a useful alternative marker to represent npRQ in patients with LC.</p> </sec> </abstract>