Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of compound protein nutrition agent on nutritional status and liver function of hepatitis B virus（HBV）-related cirrhotic patients with protein-energy malnutrition（PEM）. Methods Forty HBV-related cirrhotic patients with PEM were enrolled and no other complications existed at the baseline. Patients were then divided into protein nutrition agent group （intervention group,25 cases） and control group （15 cases）. Patients in the intervention group were given evening snack（200g yoghourt and 15g compound protein nutrition agent） with general comprehensive treatment,while patients in the control group only received general treatment. Serum albumin,prealbumin and lymphocyte count were tested and complications were recorded as well. Results Baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable,and the serum albumin,prealbumin and lymphocyte count in patients of intervention group were significantly increased than that of the controls. At 6 weeks,the albumin,prealbumin and lymphocytes counts in patients of the control group were（30.2±3.2） g/L,（122.10±24） g/L and（1.08.10±0.31）×10⁹/L,significantly lower than the intervention group[（33.6±3.7）g/L,（159.0.6±30.4）g/L and（1.36±0.26）×10⁹/L,P<0.05]. Complications in intervention group were less than the control group（P<0.05）.Conclusions Compound protein nutrition agent nutrients can improve the nutrition status and liver function of HBV-related cirrhotic patients with protein-energy malnutrition and may reduce their complications.

Key words: Cirrhosis, Compound protein nutrition agent, Malnutrition, Liver function