Effects of prolonged oral nutritional support in malnourished cirrhotic patients: results of a pilot study.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the acceptance and the effects of nutritional supplementation in malnourished ambulatory patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: From June 1999 through June 2000, alcoholic cirrhotic patients with moderate to severe malnutrition as assessed with the Detsky index were included in the study. Patients were instructed to consume, in addition to their regular diet, a commercial solution that provided 500 kcal/day.