Nutrition & Diet Therapy, 7 th Edition Nutrition Therapy for Liver & Gallbladder Diseases Chapter...

Nutrition & Diet Therapy, 7th Edition

Nutrition Therapy for Liver & Gallbladder Diseases

Chapter 20


Functions of Liver & Gallbladder

• Liver—most active organ in body– Receives & processes nutrients absorbed by

small intestine– Makes bile for fat emulsification– Synthesizes most proteins circulating in

plasma– Detoxifies drugs & alcohols– Processes excess nitrogen for excretion as

urea

• Liver damage or disease can profoundly affect health & nutritional status


I. Fatty Liver & Hepatitis

• Most common of liver disorders• Usually mild & reversible, but

can progress to serious illness & liver damage


Fatty Liver

• Accumulation of fat in liver tissue; represents imbalance between fat synthesized from the blood & the amount exported to the blood via VLDL

• Causes are unclear, but associated with:– Alcoholic liver disease– Result of exposure to

drugs & toxic materials– Associated with obesity,

diabetes mellitus, diseases of malnutrition

– May follow gastrointestinal bypass surgery or long-term TPN

• Consequences– Liver enlargement

(hepatomegaly), inflammation, fatigue

– Abnormal levels of liver enzymes

– Increased levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose

– Liver damage & failure• Treatment

– Elimination of factors causing it

– Weight reduction– Control of blood glucose

levels


Hepatitis• Inflammation of liver,

resulting from damage to liver tissue

• Cause often infection with specific viruses (A, B, C)

• Usual transmission– Blood contact with

infected persons– Ingestion of

contaminated food or water

– Excessive alcohol intake or exposure to certain drugs & toxic chemicals

• Symptoms– Effects depend on

cause & severity of disease

– Fatigue– Nausea, anorexia– Pain in liver area– Liver enlargement– Jaundice– Fever– Headache, muscle

weakness– Skin rashes– Elevation of liver

enzymes (ALT, AST)


Hepatitis• Treatment

– Supportive care; bed rest & appropriate diet– Avoidance of substances that aggravate liver (alcohol, drugs or dietary

supplements that cause liver damage-chaparral, germander, ma huang, saw palmetto and jin bu huan)

– Hepatitis A usually resolves without medications– Hepatitis B & hepatitis C infections may require antiviral agents– Nonviral forms: treated with anti-inflammatory & immunosuppressant

drugs• Nutrition therapy

– May require high-kcalorie, high-protein diet to replenish nutrient stores– Liquid supplements may improve nutrient intakes– Small, frequent meals easier to tolerate for patients with anorexia or GI

discomfort– Fluid & electrolyte replacement necessary in case of vomiting– Sodium & fat restriction may be recommended



II. Cirrhosis• End-stage condition resulting

from chronic liver disease– Gradual destruction of liver

tissue, leading to scarring– Progressive disease results in

increased scarring, few areas of healthy tissue

• Impairs liver function & can lead to liver failure

• Causes– Alcohol abuse & hepatitis C

infection most common causes

– Chronic hepatitis– Drug-induced– Inherited disorders– Bile duct blockages

• Consequences– Initial disease: mild or

asymptomatic, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, weight loss

– Later disease: decline in liver function, anemia, impaired blood clotting, increased susceptibility to infection, jaundice, fat malabsorption

– Advanced disease: disruption of kidney & lung function

– Altered liver enzymes, bilirubin levels

– Lowered albumin levels, extended clotting times

– Elevated blood ammonia levels


Cirrhosis• Consequences (con’t)

– Portal hypertension• Scarred tissue of cirrhotic liver

impairs blood flow through liver• Resistance to blood flow

increases pressure in portal vein: portal hypertension

– Collaterals & gastroesophageal varices

• Collateral circulation-smaller blood vessels enlarge to allow alternative pathway for blood flow because (in GI tract & near abdominal wall)

• As a result, varices form (collaterals become enlarged & engorged with blood)

• Ruptured esophageal or gastric varices can result in massive bleeding, often fatal

– Ascites• Accumulation of fluid in the

abdominal cavity; indicates critical stage of liver damage

• Thought to be consequence of portal hypertension, reduced albumin synthesis & altered kidney function

– Hepatic encephalopathy: characterized by abnormal neurological functioning

• Changes in personality, mental abilities & motor function

• Amnesia, seizures• Hepatic coma

– Elevated blood ammonia levels

– Malnutrition & wasting




Treatment of Cirrhosis• Individualized according to disease severity & complications

– Supportive care– Appropriate diet– Avoidance of liver toxins– Abstinence from alcohol

• Drug therapy– Medications for portal hypertension, varices– Diuretics– Appetite stimulants– Medications to reduce or control blood ammonia levels

• Nutrition therapy– Customized for each patient’s needs– Avoidance of substances that can cause further liver damage– Enteral & Parenteral nutrition support as indicated



III. Liver Transplantation• Liver failure (resulting from acute or chronic liver

disease) may require transplantation as only treatment option

• Most common result of hepatitis C infection or alcoholic liver disease

• Nutrition status of transplant patients– Usually associated with malnutrition (common with

advanced liver disease)– Correction of malnutrition prior to surgery can help

speed recovery– Associated deficiencies: vitamins B6, B12, C, thiamin,

niacin, folate, fat-soluble vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc


Liver Transplantation• Post-transplantation concerns

– Immediate concerns: organ rejection & infection– Immunosuppressive drugs reduce immune response that

causes rejection, but increase risk of infection– Effects of immunosuppressant drugs on nutrition

• GI side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, mouth sores)

• Alteration in appetite & taste perception• Hyperglycemia, diabetes• Fluid & electrolyte imbalances• Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, protein catabolism, increased

osteoporosis risk– Increased protein & energy requirements after transplantation

due to stress of surgery; includes snacks and enteral supplements.

– Vitamin & mineral supplementation– Food safety concerns to reduce risk of food-borne illnesses


IV. Gallbladder Disease• Gallstones (cholelithiasis)

– Gallbladder stores the bile made by the liver

– Disorders of gall bladder & bile ducts result in formation of gallstones

– Results from excessive concentration & crystallization

– Two Types– 1. Cholesterol gallstones:

majority of cases of gallstones; composed primarily of cholesterol; precipitation of cholesterol out of solution eventually forms stones

– 2. Pigment gallstones: composed mainly of calcium salt of bilirubin; often result of bacterial infection

Bile: solution of bile salts, cholesterol,

proteins, phospholipids &

bilirubin


Gallbladder Disease• Consequences of gallstones

– Many asymptomatic– Other symptoms—usually

occur when gallstones block cystic duct

• Steady & severe pain• Nausea, vomiting, bloating • Symptoms mainly occur after

meals, especially fatty foods

• Complications– Cholecystitis– Peritonitis– Blockage of common bile duct– Infection

• Risk factors for gallstones– Ethnicity– Age & gender– Pregnancy– Obesity & weight loss– Other risk factors

• Long-term TPN• Medications• High TG levels

• Treatment– Low fat diet– Cholecystectomy– Non-surgical

• Capsule urso-deoxycholic acid (”cholesterol production; used on small stones)

• Shock-wave lithotripsy (used on few and larger stones)


Nutrition in Practice—Alcohol in Health & Disease

• Excessive alcohol consumption is primary cause of liver disease

• Can result in toxicity to other organs, including brain, GI tract, pancreas

• Moderate use, however, shown to reduce deaths from coronary heart disease in middle-aged & older adults

• Current dietary guidelines (Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005)– Adults should limit intake to 1 drink/day (women) to 2

drinks/day (men)– Avoidance of all alcohol: pregnant & lactating women,

women who may become pregnant, children & adolescents, individuals who are taking medications that may interact with alcohol, individuals who are unable to voluntarily restrict intake


• Alcohol in the body– Source of food energy (providing 7

kcalories per gram)– Quickly absorbed in stomach &

small intestine; passes readily into body cells

– Liver is site of most alcohol metabolism

• Metabolism in liver takes priority over metabolism of other substances

• Interferes with metabolism of other substances

– Suppresses storage of glycogen & availability of glucose between meals, increasing risk of hypoglycemia

– Suppresses breakdown of fat for energy, increasing VLDL

– Inhibits protein synthesis

• Cellular toxicity– Alcohol alters structure of cell

membranes, interferes with actions of cell membrane proteins

– Under certain conditions, exposure to alcohol can induce cell death

• Effects on brain function– Acts as central nervous

system depressant• Causing sedation• Slowing reaction times• Relieving anxiety

– Extremely high blood alcohol levels can lead to coma & death

– Chronic heavy drinking can lead to neurological damage


• Effects of excessive alcohol consumption on nutrition status—nutrient deficiencies– High kcalorie content displaces other energy

sources, including essential nutrients– Widespread malabsorption occurs as result of

damage to GI mucosa– Interferes with body processing of nutrients

• Increased destruction of vitamin A• Reduction of thiamin (vit. B1) absorption & activation• Reduction of folate absorption

– Disruptive effect on metabolism of medication


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Nutrition & Diet Therapy, 7 th Edition Nutrition Therapy for Liver & Gallbladder Diseases Chapter...

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