Malnutrition is common in patients with cirrhosis. It is associatedwith
worse prognosis and frequent complications including
infections, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. Moreovermalnutrition
is associated with the progression of liver failure and
high mortality rate. It has many underlying mechanisms including,
anorexia, vomiting, poor absorption, and increased losses and
other gastrointestinal disorders. The objectives of nutritional
intervention in cirrhotic patients are the support of liver regeneration,
prevention or correction of specific nutritional deficiencies
and the prevention and/or treatment of the complications of liver
disease. So that, early recognition and treatment of malnutrition
in chronic liver disease lead to better disease outcome as well
as prevention of the complications of chronic liver disease. The
following review discusses approaches for the clinician to overcome
some of the difficulties that prevent adequate nutrition
delivery in cirrhotic patients.