ABSTRACT
Patients who have undergone LT, or are awaiting LT, represent the most complex medical challenges. These patients are often plagued with multiple comorbid diseases and require meticulous, well-planned and executed, highly individualized medical care. Since the liver plays a major function in metabolic homeostasis, nutritional and metabolic support becomes one of the most important therapeutic interventions. Malnutrition and its associated sequella are common features in patients with chronic liver disease in general, and most patients awaiting LT are no exception. Malnutrition in this group of patients is a consequence of increased nutrient requirements in the presence of hypermetabolism, anorexia and inadequate oral intake, associated with concomitant impaired digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients.
