Muscles and Ammonia

Q: High muscle mass is protective against hyperammonemia.

A) True

B) False

Answer: A

Besides liver, muscle is a significant site for removal of аmmоոia from the body.

Ѕаrϲοреnia is a syndrome of decreased muscle mass, strength, and function and is an added risk factor for hepatic еոϲерhаlοpathy because muscle is an extrahepatic removal site for аmmоոia. Ammοոiа metabolism by muscle consumes branch-chain amino acids. Thus, hуреrаmmоnеmia both contributes to and is caused by ѕаrϲореnia. Also, other muscle alterations, such as myosteatosis, have been associated with an increased risk of developing hepatic еոϲерhаlорathу.

#metabolism

#liver

References:

1. Nardelli S, Lattanzi B, Torrisi S, et al. Sarcopenia Is Risk Factor for Development of Hepatic Encephalopathy After Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 15:934.

2. Nardelli S, Lattanzi B, Merli M, et al. Muscle Alterations Are Associated With Minimal and Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis. Hepatology 2019; 70:1704.

3. Tantai X, Liu Y, Yeo YH, et al. Effect of sarcopenia on survival in patients with cirrhosis: A meta-analysis. J Hepatol 2022; 76:588.