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The impact of nutritional supplementation on quality of life in patients infected with hepatitis C virus
Author(s) -
Boulhosa R. S. S. B.,
Oliveira L. P. M.,
Jesus R. P.,
Cavalcante L. N.,
Lemaire D. C.,
Vinhas L.,
Lyra L. G. C.,
Lyra A. C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/jhn.12087
Subject(s) - medicine , anthropometry , quality of life (healthcare) , nutritional supplementation , hepatitis c virus , casein , lean body mass , gastroenterology , virus , immunology , body weight , food science , chemistry , nursing
Background The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of animal and vegetable protein supplementation on health‐related quality of life ( HRQL ) in patients with hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) and to investigate clinical and nutritional variables related to quality of life in these patients. Methods One hundred and forty patients infected with HCV were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the S oy G roup ( SG ; n = 72), where patients received a soy supplement diet and the C asein G roup ( CG ; n = 68), where patients received casein as a supplement. Anthropometric, biochemical and clinical assessments were performed in all patients, and the S hort‐ F orm H ealth S urvey was applied at baseline and 12 weeks after study initiation. Results Before supplementation, poor HRQL scores were associated with female sex ( P = 0.004) and advanced fibrosis (F3/F4; P = 0.04). Reduced HRQL scores were correlated with age ( r = −0.263; P = 0.002), serum albumin levels ( r = 0.245; P = 0.004), lean mass ( r = 0.301; P < 0.0001) and body fat percentage ( r = −0.262; P = 0.002). After 12 weeks of intervention, patients in both supplementation groups showed significantly increased HRQL scores, with no difference being observed between the SG and the CG . Conclusions Nutritional therapy with either soybean or casein supplementation improved quality of life in patients infected with HCV . Quality of life was influenced by anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and sociodemographic factors in patients with HCV before nutritional supplementation.