Late evening snack and the change of blood glucose level in patients with liver cirrhosis.

It has been reported that patients with liver cirrhosis suffer from energy malnutrition and late evening snacks (LES) can be effective for this malnutrition. On the other hand, it is also known that some patients with liver cirrhosis have glucose intolerance as a complication. We have shown that 1 week LES treatment using as an oral supplement with branched chain amino acids significantly reduced an increase of blood glucose level after meals. Fat oxidation rate was significantly decreased with an increased carbohydrate oxidation rate. LES may improve glucose intolerance in patients with liver cirrhosis, at least hospitalized patients.