C. Liver diseases
1. The liver plays a key role in the metabolism of the nutrients
2. Complex alterations in the metabolism of proteins occur in patients
with acute and chronic liver failure
3. These patients show a plasma amino acid imbalance characterized by
① High levels of aromatic amino acids (AAA: tyrosine and
phenylalanine) and methionine
② Low levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA: valine, leucine
and isoleucine)
4. Protein requirements for patients with hepatic encephalopathy
include high levels of BCAA and the amounts of AAA below 2%