Archive · 29 May 2025
Plant-Based Meal Swap May Benefit Liver Health
Doctors are learning that what you eat can affect your liver, especially if you have liver problems.
A new study found that if people with liver disease swapped a meat meal for a plant-based one, their bodies made less of a harmful substance called ammonia.
High levels of ammonia can cause serious issues.
Researchers gave people with liver problems different types of burgers, some with meat and some without.
Those who ate plant-based burgers had lower levels of ammonia.
Even just changing one meal occasionally can help the liver by reducing ammonia levels.
This suggests that small changes in what you eat can make a big difference.
Study suggests replacing meat with plant-based protein in one meal benefits liver patients.
The change lowers harmful ammonia levels linked to cirrhosis and cognitive decline.
Researchers studied 30 adults with cirrhosis, comparing meat and plant-based burger meals.
Participants consuming meat burgers had higher ammonia-linked amino acids.
Experts suggest small dietary adjustments can positively impact liver health.
- Who
- Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University and Richmond VA Medical Center studied 30 adults with cirrhosis.
- What
- Replacing meat in one meal with plant-based protein lowers harmful ammonia levels, benefiting liver health.
- When
- Recently, as per a new study.
- Where
- The research was conducted at the Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine and the Richmond VA Medical Center.
- Why
- To reduce ammonia production, which is linked to cirrhosis and cognitive decline in patients with liver disease.
- Researchers
- Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine, Richmond VA Medical Center
- Study Participants
- 30 adults with cirrhosis
- Meal Types
- Meat burgers, vegan meat substitutes, and vegetarian bean-based burgers
- Conditions Affected
- Cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy
- Benefit
- Lowering ammonia levels in blood