By David Liu PHD

Thursday Aug 16, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) patients may consider taking some supplements of branched-chain amino acids because it may help prevent recurrence for a short term (2.5 years) after surgery, according to a study in Surgery Today.

The study led by K. Ichiakawa of Kochi Medical School in Kochi, Japan and colleagues showed that hepatpcellular carcinoma patients who took branched chain amino acids for two weeks before and six months after hepatic resection were less likely to have recurrence within 30 months of surgery.

In the study, fifty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive either branched chain amino acids supplementation or a conventional diet for two weeks before and six months after removal of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Although there was no significant difference in the overall 5-year survival rate between the two liver cancer patient groups, the recurrence rate at 30 months after hepatocellular carcinoma surgery was much better in the supplementation group, compared to the control group.

Additionally, among hepatocellular carcinoma patients who took branched chain amino acids,  the tumor markers, such as AFP and PIVKA-II, were significantly lowered at 36 months after surgery, compared to the control group.

The researchers concluded "Oral supplementation of BCAA (branched-chain amino acids) reduces early recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with HCC (hepatocellular carcimona). This treatment regimen offers potential benefits for clinical use in such patients, even in cases with a well-preserved preoperative liver function."