Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Oral branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) might benefit patients with advanced liver disease. We assess its effects on prognosis compared with control from the meta-analysis. METHODS: Study end points were development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mortality, and overall liver-related events (LREs). Risk ratios (RRs) and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using random effects model and heterogeneity using I 2 statistic. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were included in this meta-analysis; 1,578 and 1,727 patients in oral BCAAs and control groups, respectively. From studies using RRs as outcome measures, oral BCAAs were better in preventing HE and LRE than controls, with RRs 0.684 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.497-0.941; P = 0.019) and 0.788 (95% CI 0.585-0.810; P < 0.001), respectively. Oral BCAAs had marginal effect on preventing HCC compared with control, with RR 0.791 (95% CI 0.619-1.011; P = 0.061); no significant difference in mortality was detected. From studies using HRs as outcome measures, oral BCAAs were superior to control in preventing LRE with adjusted HR 0.497 (95% CI 0.321-0.770; P = 0.002). In subgroups undergoing HCC resection, oral BCAAs had beneficial effect in preventing HE (RR 0.716, 95% CI 0.514-0.996; P = 0.047) and LRE (RR 0.716, 95% CI 0.595-0.860; P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Oral BCAAs could afford clinical benefits in reducing HE and LRE risks, especially among patients undergoing HCC resection.