Comparison of nutritional background of the patients with alcoholic liver diseases between U.S.A. and Japan

To clarify the differences in nutritional background of the patients with alcoholic liver diseases between U.S.A. and Japan, 60 Japanese alcoholic patients (9: alcoholic hepatitis, 51: alcoholic liver cirrhosis) were studied in comparison with 40 American alcoholic patients (21: alcoholic hepatitis, 19: alcoholic liver cirrhosis). Alcohol contributed about 50% of total calorie intake in both countries. American patients with alcoholic hepatitis or alcoholic liver cirrhosis had higher fat intake than Japanese patients (U.S.A. 20Cal%, Japan 10Cal% p<0.001). Protein intake was 7-9% of total calorie intake of American and Japanese patients. Laboratory data such as serum levels of total bilirubin and albumih showed more abnormal values in American patients than in Japanese. These results suggest that dietary fat may be involved in the clinical differences in the severity of alcoholic liver disease, which exists between American and Japanese patients.