Alterations in Blood Ammonium Level and Psychometric Test in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis after a Tempe Diet
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24871/32200233-37Abstract
Background: Hepatic encephalopathy is found in 50-70% cases of liver cirrhosis. Management of hepatic encephalopathy is based on the hypothesis of ammonia and false neurotransmitters. A vegetable diet is the diet of choice, since vegetable proteins have a high biological value, contains non- ammonigenic essential amino acids, and contains fiber. The results of soy fermentation by Rhizopus sp can increase the nutritional value to make it easier for body digestion. Study aim: To determine improvements in hepatic encephalopathy by measuring the ammonium level and determining the psychometric test in patients with liver cirrhosis receiving a tempe diet compared to those receiving a liver diet (conventional diet). Method: This is a random open clinical trial with a proportional stratification according to the Child Pugh criteria. Study subjects are patients with liver cirrhosis who are hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Ward and ambulatory patients at the out-patient Gastro-hepatology Polyclinic of Dr. Sarjito Public General Hospital, from January 1999 to May 2000. The trial was conducted for 20 days, where the first (trial) group is given a tempe diet, while the second (control) group is given liver diet II/III (conventional). Measured outcomes include peripheral blood ammonium level, and psychometric test using the Numeric Connection Test (NCT). Results: In the first group, we found a significant reduction of ammonium level in Child-Pugh A patients and a non-significant reduction in Child-Pugh B/C patients, a non-significant psychometric test improvement in Child-Pugh A patients, and significant psychometric test improvement in Child-Pugh B/C patients. In group II: there is no significant difference in the changes in ammonium level or psychometric test in patients from both Child-Pugh categories. Conclusion: A 20-day tempe diet can reduce ammonium levels and improve results on the psychometric test. Â Keywords: lever cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, tempe diet, numeric connection test, child-pugh criteria
Downloads
Published
2002-01-08
How to Cite
Ratnasari, N., & Nurdjanah, S. (2002). Alterations in Blood Ammonium Level and Psychometric Test in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis after a Tempe Diet. The Indonesian Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Digestive Endoscopy, 3(2), 33–37. https://doi.org/10.24871/32200233-37
Issue
Section
Original Articles
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
a. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
b. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
c. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).