Can dietary intake influence plasma levels of amino acids in liver cirrhosis?

background. modifications in plasma amino acid patterns in cirrhotics are attributed to impaired liver function, being more evident in alcoholic than in viral cirrhosis. aim. to evaluate whether diet influences plasma amino acid concentrations in different aetiological groups of cirrhotics. patients. study population comprised 40 patients with cirrhosis (25 virus- and 15 alcohol-related), all child a, and 30 healthy subjects (controls). method. a food frequency and quality questionnaire was utilized to determine dietary history and alcohol intake. nutritional status was evaluated by anthropometric method. amino acids were determined, on venous blood samples, using a specific analyzer, while cysteine was evaluated by fluorescent high power liquid chromatography: results. the total daily intake of calories, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates was similar in all individuals. food quality distinguished the cirrhotics from the controls, but not the different aetiological groups of cirrhotics. plasma cysteine levels were significantly lower: while aromatic amino acids and methionine were significantly higher, in all cirrhotics (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively, versus controls). the decrease in cysteine and the increase in other amino acids were more marked in alcoholics (p<0.01). conclusions. ethanol intake, but not diet, further enhances the changes in plasma aromatic amino acids, methionine and cysteine induced by impaired liver function in patients with cirrhosis, suggesting a direct interference of alcohol in their metabolism.