Nutritional Counseling Improves the Nutritional Status, Liver Function, and Serum Electrolytes of Patients with Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Nutrition counseling may assist liver transplant patients in controlling weight gain, addressing micronutrient deficiencies, and maintaining metabolic status. This study aimed to determine the effect of nutritional counseling on nutritional status, liver profile, and serum electrolytes of liver transplant patients. In this case-control study, 100 patients were recruited from Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, who were potential liver transplant candidates. They were divided into two groups: a case group, who were given nutrition counseling (n = 50), and a control group, who were not provided nutrition counseling (n = 50). Data was collected about patients' socio-economic status, medical history, anthropometric, biochemical and dietary profiles. Independent t-tests, chi-square tests for qualitative frequency distribution, and paired t-tests were used. At baseline, the weight and BMI of the case and control were comparable, but there was a non-significant difference. Nutrition counseling was effective in improving biochemical variables (potassium at preoperative, sodium and albumin during illness; p-value < 0.05), Liver function (ALT at preoperative and postoperative, AKT at preoperative, during sickness and postoperative; p-value < 0.05) and macronutrient profile (fat intake during illness and protein intake during postoperative stage; p-value < 0.05) in case group as compared to control. Effective nutrition counseling improves liver transplant patients' nutritional status, liver function, and serum electrolytes.