Randomised clinical trial: effect of adding branched chain amino acids to exercise and standard-of-care on muscle mass in cirrhotic patients with sarcopenia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The role of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) in improving muscle mass in cirrhosis is presently debatable.

AIMS:

To evaluate the role of BCAA in improving muscle mass in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in patients with cirrhosis having sarcopenia.

METHODS:

Consecutive patients with cirrhosis with Child-Pugh score < 10 and sarcopenia were randomized to receive either 12 g/day of BCAA orally or a placebo (1:1) for 6 months in addition to a home-based exercise program (30 min/day), dietary counselling and standard medical therapy. Sarcopenia was defined according to gender-specific axial skeletal muscle index (SMI) cut-offs. The primary endpoint was a change in muscle mass based on CT scan (SMI) after 6 months of supplementation.

RESULTS:

Sixty patients [mean age 41.6 ± 9.9 years; males (66.6%) of predominantly viral (40%) and alcohol-related (31.7%) cirrhosis] were randomized. Baseline clinical and demographic characters were similar except MELD score (10.2 ± 2.8 vs. 12.2 ± 3.5, p = 0.02) and calorie intake (1838.1 kcal ± 631.5 vs. 2217.5 kcal ± 707.3, p = 0.03), both being higher in the placebo arm. After adjusting for both baseline confounders, baseline SMI and protein intake, the change in SMI at 6 months was similar in both groups [mean adjusted difference (MAD) + 0.84, CI - 2.9; + 1.2, p = 0.42] by intention-to-treat analysis. The secondary outcomes including change in handgrip strength (p = 0.65), 6-m gait speed (p = 0.20), 6-min walk distance (p = 0.39) were similar in both arms. Four patients had minor adverse events in each arm.

CONCLUSION:

Addition of BCAA to exercise, dietary counselling and standard medical therapy did not improve muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis having sarcopenia. (CTRI/2019/05/019269).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:

CTRI/2019/05/019269 (Clinical Trials Registry of India).

• Authors: Srikant Mohta, Abhinav Anand, Sanchit Sharma, Sumaira Qamar, Samagra Agarwal, Deepak Gunjan, Namrata Singh, Kumble Seetarama Madhusudhan, Ravindra Mohan Pandey, Anoop Saraya
• Journal: Hepatology international (Hepatol Int) Vol. 16 Issue 3 Pg. 680-690 (Jun 2022) ISSN: 1936-0541 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35469091 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2022. Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver.

Chemical References

• Amino Acids, Branched-Chain

Topics

• Adult
• Amino Acids, Branched-Chain (therapeutic use)
• Hand Strength
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Skeletal (pathology)
• Sarcopenia (complications)