Food for thought: Importance of nutrition in alcoholic hepatitis

As alcohol consumption increases worldwide, so does the prevalence of various clinical manifestations of alcohol-related liver disease. Acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) is the most severe form of alcoholic liver disease, yet many patients suffering from this syndrome are not diagnosed or are inadequately treated. Morbidity and mortality are high in patients with severe AAH. Unfortunately, available therapeutic regimens remain few and far between. Nutritional support is an essential component of treatment for AAH as malnutrition has been associated with poorer outcomes. The role of adjunctive nutritional support, including enteral feeding and specific supplemental micronutrients, needs to be better delineated as it relates to altering clinical outcomes. We review the nutritional aspects of patients with AAH and the effect implementation of various dietary interventions have on clinical outcomes of this frequently deadly condition.