Exercise approaches show promise for muscle loss in cirrhosis
Exercise improved some muscle outcomes in cirrhosis trials. Supplements alone did not show increased muscle mass, and some strength findings remained uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Approaches involving exercise improved muscle mass and physical performance in this review of cirrhosis trials. Protein or branched-chain amino acid supplements alone did not show increased muscle mass, while effects of branched-chain amino acids on strength remained uncertain. The results do not identify the best exercise program or establish benefits for people without cirrhosis.
The abstract omits follow-up durations and detailed exercise programs. The authors call for better trials to identify the most effective type of exercise.
What researchers found
Physical performance change: exercise versus control
The change favored exercise by 1.43 standard-deviation units, which compare effects relative to score variability. This is neither a percentage nor a raw performance-unit gain. Control details and follow-up duration were not reported.
Muscle outcomes are distinct
Muscle mass, strength, and physical performance were separate outcomes. A favorable result for mass does not automatically establish stronger muscles, and the uncertain strength findings remain part of the evidence.
How combinations were compared
The network analysis gave the largest muscle mass estimate to exercise combined with protein and branched-chain amino acids. This does not establish superiority to every alternative through direct comparisons.
The original publication
Exercise and nutrition interventions for sarcopenia in cirrhosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Kittiprachakul S, Maung ST, Poorirerngpoom N et al.
Eur J Clin Nutr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40925921
- Record checked
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