Sahlgrenska Academyat University of GothenburgDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical NutritionAbstractTitle: BCAA supplementation in patients undergoing resection for liver cancerAuthor: Mikael Semaan and Viktor SjölingSupervisor: Fredrik BertzExaminer: Frode SlindeProgramme: Dietician study programme, 180/240 ECTSType of paper: Examination paper, 15 hpDate: April 10, 2013BackgroundLiver cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third largest to cause death. Protein-energy malnutrition is common in patients with liver disease and they often suffer from changes in the hepatic metabolism of nutrients and other substances. There is a basis for recommending BCAA supplementation in other certain liver diseases. Given the similar clinical picture of liver cancer surgery, it is possible that supplementation of BCAA can be beneficial for these patients as well.ObjectiveThe aim was to study the scientific basis for the effect of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation in liver cancer patients. Can it improve their recovery in terms of nutritional status and albumin levels, and does it changes the duration of hospital stay, after surgery?Search strategyFive extensive searches were performed on PubMed and Cochrane after appropriate study material.