New guideline from American College of Gastroenterology spotlights a common diet myth

By MDLinx staff  Published December 11, 2025

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Cirrhosis is a catabolic state, so patients are losing their muscle mass, and if they cut protein, they are further exaggerating loss of bone mineral density, putting them at risk for fractures--Ashwani K. Singal, MD, MS
The American College of Gastroenterology has issued its first stand-alone guideline on nutrition in patients with liver disease. [1]It's a long-overdue move, according to lead author Ashwani K. Singal, MD, MS, a transplant hepatologist at the University of Louisville. [2In a conversation with Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News, Dr. Singal laid out how clinicians should approach nutrition for patients with liver disease. [2]
The message is clear: Stop restricting protein.
Breaking the protein myth
For decades, patients with cirrhosis have been told to cut back on protein to avoid worsening encephalopathy. The new guideline directly confronts this misconception. [3]
Breaking the protein myth
For decades, patients with cirrhosis have been told to cut back on protein to avoid worsening encephalopathy. The new guideline directly confronts this misconception. [3]
"Cirrhosis is a catabolic state, so patients are losing their muscle mass, and if they cut protein, they are further exaggerating loss of bone mineral density, putting them at risk for fractures," Dr. Singal said. "In addition, muscle plays a big role in the elimination of ammonia. There’s a connection between nutritional state, muscle loss, and hepatic encephalopathy, as well as falls and fractures. This cycle can be broken by improving the patient’s nutritional status, by improving how they eat, how much they eat, and their protein intake." [2]

TO CONTINUE: https://www.mdlinx.com/article/new-guideline-from-american-college-of-gastroenterology-spotlights-a-common-diet-myth/7lHVWBJP730pF2hFRSOf


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