[Comparison between a diet with mainly vegetal protein content and a diet with mainly animal protein content in...

Eight cirrhotic patients were studied in a randomized crossover single blind study in order to compare the effects of two isocaloric, and with equal amount of protein diets on nitrogen balance and on the portal systemic index. One diet was 2:3 vegetable protein to total protein content (diet V) and the other 2:3 animal protein to total protein content (diet A). Each diet was changed every three weeks. Five patients followed the VAV scheme and three the AVA scheme. The mean values of the porto systemic index were almost the same with the two diets while the value of the nitrogen balance was less negative with the diet A than with the diet V, showing an increasing trend, more marked with the diet A, at every consecutive time of observation. The variance analysis was not significant for any of the two diets. Diet V was well tolerated.