Nutritional Needs If You Have Cirrhosis

If you have cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) in addition to hepatitis C, you may need to make some changes to your dietary habits. Your doctor may provide a specific "nutritional prescription" that's right for you or recommend a consultation with a dietician.

You may find that you have difficulty maintaining your weight. It's important to take in enough calories to have maximum energy and to avoid becoming malnourished.

Here are some basic dietary guidelines for people who have cirrhosis:

• Protein. Be sure to get enough protein to avoid muscle wasting and to keep up your energy level. However, if you develop encephalopathy (a cloudiness of mental function), your doctor might prescribe a "protein-restricted" diet.
• Vitamin supplements. Most people with hepatitis C, even those with cirrhosis, get enough water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins C and B complex. However, if you are concerned about getting enough of these vitamins, talk to your doctor.
• Salt and fluid retention. Talk to your doctor about whether you will need to restrict your use of salt. Cirrhosis disturbs the regulation of body salt and water. Salt acts like a sponge, which causes fluid retention. Salt restrictions can vary from a "no salt added" (NSA) diet to more severe restrictions”down to 1 or 2 grams of salt per day.