Journal
NUTRIENTS
Volume 13, Issue 4, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nu13041249
Keywords
micronutrient deficiency; trace element deficiency; vitamin deficiency; malnutrition; decompensated cirrhosis
Categories
Funding
- Corporacio Sanitaria Parc Tauli in the modality Encouraging initiation in clinical research
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Patients with decompensated cirrhosis commonly have micronutrient deficiencies, with vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and zinc being the most prevalent. The severity of hepatic insufficiency correlates with varying levels of micronutrient deficiencies, such as lower zinc, vitamin E and vitamin A, and higher vitamin B12 and ferritin levels.
Patients with cirrhosis often develop malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, leading to a worse prognosis and increased mortality. Our main goal was to assess the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This was a prospective single-center study including 125 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute decompensation of cirrhosis (mostly of alcoholic etiology). A blood test including trace elements and vitamins was performed on admission. The main micronutrient deficiencies observed were vitamin D (in 94.5%), vitamin A (93.5%), vitamin B6 (60.8%) and zinc (85.6%). Patients in Child-Pugh class C had lower levels of vitamin A (p < 0.0001), vitamin E (p = 0.01) and zinc (p < 0.001), and higher levels of ferritin (p = 0.002) and vitamin B12 (p < 0.001) than those in Child-Pugh class A and B. Patients with a higher model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score had lower levels of vitamin A (p < 0.0001), vitamin E (p < 0.001), magnesium (p = 0.01) and zinc (p = 0.001), and higher levels of ferritin (p = 0.002) and vitamin B12 (p < 0.0001). Severe hepatic insufficiency correlated with lower levels of zinc, vitamin E and vitamin A, and higher levels of vitamin B12 and ferritin.
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