Nutritional Need for Patients Before a Liver Transplant

Your liver is responsible for performing the final stages of digestion and for converting food into energy. For patients awaiting a liver transplant, liver damage largely interferes with the way that your body processes nutrients. This, in turn, can lead to malnutrition, which can adversely affect the ultimate outcome of the transplant and long-term health.

Significance

• The liver plays a key role in metabolizing fats, proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates. Liver damage commonly leads to deficiencies in your intake of calories and nutrients. Additionally, patients with liver disease commonly experience a decreased ability to absorb nutrients.

Clinical Research

• According to an article published in the Liver Transplantation journal in 2006 by Antonio J. Sanchez and Jaime Aranda-Michel of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of complications, such as illness, and death. Correcting the nutritional deficiencies and engaging in ongoing nutritional support will help to optimize the patient's success and long-term health after the transplant.

Nutritional Intervention

• Many doctors and health-care providers will arrange a meeting with a nutritionist before your surgery. This is to assess your nutritional requirements and to help boost your health before surgery.

What to Include

• According to the University of Southern California Liver Transplant Program and Center for Liver Disease, while each individual's nutrition requirements may vary, your diet should focus on a healthy variety of lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.

What To Avoid

• Minimize your use of table salt, sugar and fat to help counteract fluid retention and to help regulate blood pressure and blood sugars.