Medical Nutrition Therapy for Liver Cirrhosis

1) How will you benefit from seeing a dietitian?
You will benefit from seeing a dietitian when you have liver cirrhosis and want to learn how to modify your diet to manage your liver condition especially if you have one or more of the following complications:

• ascites (fluid accumulation around the stomach area)
• Poor appetite during illness related to illness

2) The objective of the medical nutrition therapy
The objective is to help you understand your condition and equip you with the relevant nutrition information to modify your diet, optimise nutrition intake and to manage your symptoms and to prevent further muscle, fat and weight loss.

3) What is covered in the session?
During the consultation, the dietitian will perform a detailed nutritional assessment and collect the following information:

• Weight history
• Fat and muscle storage
• Duration of change in appetite and diet
• Dietary habits, meal pattern and lifestyle
• Disease complications such as ascites, encephalopathy etc.
• Relevant blood results

The dietitian will then provide you with advice on:

• How to identify sources of nutrients in the diet that affect your liver condition
• Optimising calories and protein in your diet
• Controlling salt and fluid intake
• Meal preparation and eating out tips
• Individualised dietary recommendations
• Amount, type and frequency of nutritional supplement that is most suitable for you if needed

Blood results, body weight, signs and symptoms of disease complications and dietary intake will be reviewed regularly and further nutrition recommendations and relevant information will be provided accordingly.