SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF WHEY PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE NUTRITIONAL
STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WAITING FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Abstract
Background & aims: Chronic liver disease is associated with
malnutrition that negatively impacts a patient’s health-related quality
of life (HRQoL). We evaluated the short-term effect of whey protein
supplementation on the HRQoL and nutritional and functional status of
patients waiting for liver transplantation (LT). Methods: This was a
double-blind randomized clinical trial with patients waiting for LT who
were randomized into two groups: WP (whey protein supplementation) and
the control (casein supplementation). Both groups received 40g (20g in
the morning and 20 g in the evening) for 15 days. Nutritional and
functional status were evaluated. Energy balance (EB) was calculated as
the difference between energy intake (24-hour recall) and total energy
expenditure. The chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) was used to
assess HRQoL. All measurements were performed before and after the
intervention. Results: Fifty-six patients were evaluated. Malnutrition
was present in 56.9% of patients, and it was directly associated with a
poor HRQoL (p<0.05). No improvement on the nutritional and
functional status was observed, in either group after protein
supplementation. HRQoL improved after WP and casein supplementation,
with no differences between groups (p>0.05). Patients who
met protein requirements and had a positive EB demonstrated a higher
HRQoL score (4.9) (p<0.05), without between-group differences.
Conclusion: Malnutrition substantially reduces HRQoL. Short-term WP or
casein supplementation improved the HRQoL.