Vegetable Proteins Versus Mixed Animal Proteins on the Outcome of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic Encephalopathy Clinical Trial

Official title:

Comparative Study Between Vegetable Proteins, and Mixed Animal Proteins on the Outcome of Hepatic Encephalopathy Patients in ICU and Wards

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06075875
• Other study ID #: 45-2023
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: December 23, 2023
• Est. completion date: January 2025

Study information

• Verified date: December 2023
• Source: National Hepatology & Tropical Medicine Research Institute
• Contact: Eman Ibrahim El-Desoki Mahmoud
• Phone: +201227409501
• Email: eman18350[@]gmail.com
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Vegetables are thought to be beneficial not only because of their high content of fiber, which promotes bacterial fermentation and decreases colonic transit time, decreasing ammonia absorption from the gut, but also because of their high BCAA content, low methionine and tryptophan contents, and the induction of gut microbiota which, in turn, increases fecal nitrogen excretion. Also the fact supporting the underlying rationale for the use of vegetable proteins is that dietary fiber contributes to the improvement of glycemic control in these patients. Smaller sample studies also support the idea that vegetable based protein diets have better effect on cognition in patients with HE; in these studies vegetable protein diet was compared to meat protein diet and patients with HE showed improvement in cognition on former diets. However, no positive effects were shown by Shaw or Chiarino.

Similarly, another older single blind crossover study (n=10) showed that as compared to meat proteins, vegan diet has a better effect on mental status as determined on psychometric testing in patients with HE.

As a result of the limited studies and small number of participants of the effect of vegetable proteins on HE, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a vegetable versus mixed animal and vegetable protein diet on hepatic encephalopathy.

Description:

After approval by NHTMRI-IRB Ethical Committee.All demographic data will be obtained including the patients age, sex,associated co-morbidities (diabetes mellitus & hypertension), cause of hepatic encephalopathy, grade of hepatic encephalopathybythe West Haven criteria (WHC),14Child-Pugh score, Model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score, and subjective global assessment (SGA).

All patients will receive the routine medical supportive treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in the form of rectal enemas, oral non-absorbable disaccharides (Lactulose), non-absorbable antibacterial (Rifaximin).

All patients will receive enteral nutrition either oral if tolerated (HE grade I/II) or through nasogastric tubes (if intolerant; HE grade III/IV). Patients were assessed for 24 hours for tolerance of enteral feeding.

Patients were randomized to receiveeither diets containingpure vegetable proteins (a study group) versus the mixed animal and vegetable proteins in the standard ratio (2/3:1/3; 60%:40% respectively) present in the nutritional menu over all hospitals in the general organization of teaching hospitals and institutes "GOTHI"; Egypt= as a control group) and continued for at least 48hours and followed for five days. The vegetable diets will be prepared from the dietetic service of our institute;calories will be calculated for 30Kcal/Kg/day (average 2000Kcal) and proteins 1.2g/Kg/day15 (average 84gm).

Follow up daily for the degree of hepatic encephalopathy by WHC criteria will be recorded.Complete blood counts, urea, and blood glucose will be monitored in the first 72hours. Follow up arterial ammonia will e on day zero (start of regimen) and day three.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 196
• Est. completion date: January 2025
• Est. primary completion date: September 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged =18years old

• admitted to the intensive care unit or wards of the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI) who have or developed hepatic encephalopathy and have no contraindication for enteral nutrition

Exclusion Criteria:

• If they have contraindication for enteral nutrition e.g. intestinal obstruction, or active hematemesis.

• Patients who are on total parenteral nutrition

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Brain Diseases
• Hepatic Encephalopathy

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• mixed animal and vegetable proteins
mixed animal and vegetable proteins in the standard ratio (2/3:1/3; 60%:40% respectively) present in the nutritional menu over all hospitals in the general organization of teaching hospitals and institutes "GOTHI"; Egypt= as a control group) and continued for at least 48hours and followed for five days. The vegetable diets will be prepared from the dietetic service of our institute;calories will be calculated for 30Kcal/Kg/day (average 2000Kcal) and proteins 1.2g/Kg/day15 (average 84gm).
• pure vegetable proteins
pure vegetable proteins continued for at least 48hours and followed for five days. The vegetable diets will be prepared from the dietetic service of our institute;calories will be calculated for 30Kcal/Kg/day (average 2000Kcal) and proteins 1.2g/Kg/day15 (average 84gm).

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Egypt	NHTMRI	Cairo

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Hepatology & Tropical Medicine Research Institute

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Egypt, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	grade of hepatic encepalopathy	if the vegetable proteins will improve the hepatic encephalopathy grade in comparison with animal proteins.	48hours
Secondary	length of stay	ICU ength of stay	during the study up to 24 weeks
Secondary	length of stay	hospital stay	during the study up to one year