Substitution Of One Meat-Based Meal With Vegetarian Or Vegan Alternative Lowers Serum Ammonia Levels In Patients With Cirrhosis, Study Finds

Healio (7/17, Burba) says, “Substitution of just one meat-based meal with a vegetarian or vegan alternative reduced serum ammonia levels for up to 3 hours and improved metabolites in patients with cirrhosis who follow a Western meat-based diet, researchers reported.” The study found “a reduction in metabolites of branched chain and acylcarnitines as well as alterations in lipid profile – higher sphingomyelins and lower lysophospholipids – in the meat vs. non-meat groups.” The findings were published in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology.