Substitution of single meat-based meal with nonmeat alternative also results in altered serum metabolomics<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) — When substituting meat for a nonmeat alternative, lower ammoniagenesis and altered serum metabolomics are seen for patients with cirrhosis, regardless of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), according to a study published online May 2 in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Bryan D. Badal, M.D., from Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Virginia, and colleagues randomly assigned outpatients with cirrhosis with and without prior HE on a stable Western meat-based diet into three groups. Patients were given a burger with 20 g of protein of meat, vegan (V), or vegetarian (VG). At baseline and hourly for three hours after the meal, blood for metabolomics via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and ammonia was drawn. Stool microbiome characteristics, changes in ammonia, and metabolomics were compared between and within groups.<\/p>\n The researchers found an increase in serum ammonia from baseline in the meat group but not in the V or VG groups. In the meat versus the nonmeat groups, metabolites of branched chain and acyl-carnitines decreased. Compared with the V and VG groups, in the meat group, there were alterations in the lipid profile (higher sphingomyelins and lower lysophospholipids).<\/p>\n “Larger studies with longer duration should focus on whether intermittent vegetarian or vegan meals would result in clinically meaningful outcomes in at-risk patients such as prevention of HE in patients with cirrhosis who normally follow a Western meat-based diet and should focus on appropriate patient selection,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n