Going Meatless for a Meal Can Benefit Liver Patients: Study
By Tracy Swartz
Published May 2, 2024, 6:52 p.m. ET
Going vegan or vegetarian for just one meal can lower levels of harmful ammonia in adults whose livers are permanently damaged by cirrhosis, according to a study published Thursday.
Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine and Richmond VA Medical Center presented a burger containing 20 grams of protein to 30 carnivorous adults being treated at the medical center.
Meal Variations
10 were handed a patty made of pork and beef; 10 were given a vegan meat substitute; and the rest were served a vegetarian bean burger. Participants also received low-fat potato chips, a whole-grain bun, and water. No condiments or toppings were allowed.
Ammonia and Liver Damage
Blood and urine samples were taken before and after the meal, with the study authors reporting that participants who ate the meat burger had higher amino acids associated with ammonia production and hepatic encephalopathy than those who ate a non-meat burger.
When the body digests food, bacteria in the intestines produce ammonia. The waste product is typically processed in the liver, but severely damaged livers can’t perform that function, which allows the toxic chemical compound to build up in the brain.
Advice for Liver Patients
“It was exciting to see that even small changes in your diet, like having one meal without meat once in a while, could benefit your liver by lowering harmful ammonia levels in patients with cirrhosis,” said VCU gastroenterologist Dr. Jasmohan Bajaj.
In the meantime, they hope physicians encourage their liver patients who eat meat to substitute it with protein from plant or dairy sources. “Liver patients with cirrhosis should know that making positive changes in their diet doesn’t have to be overwhelming or difficult.”
