Resumo:
The Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.
Patients with HCV have several comorbidities, among them Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD). It is not yet established whether the nutritional and metabolic characteristics of
patients with HCV may increase the risk for NAFLD.Objective: The aim of this study was to
identify changes in Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) of HCV patients. Methods: Cross-
sectional study including patients from the service Hepatology, Hospital Complex University
Professor Edgard Santos (C-HUPES) Federal University of Bahia, from March 2011 to
December 2012. Were selected subjects diagnosed with HCV without other associated liver
disease who were not on antiviral treatment and ethanol ingestion ≤ 140g/semana. A
questionnaire containing identification data, clinical information and anthropometric was
applied. The presence of fatty liver was evaluated by bióspia. To compare the GER the
patients performed a test of indirect calorimetry and body composition assessment was
performed bioelectrical impedance testing. Data were compared between patients with HCV
and NAFLD over those with HCV without NAFLD. Results: Of the 39 patients with HCV,
11 (28,2%) had NAFLD, among these the majority were female (63,6%), older than 50 years
(72,7%) was overweight (63,6% ), increased waist circumference (81.8%) and did not
practice physical activity (90,9%). These were the same features found in patients with HCV
without NAFLD. The GER patients with NAFLD was similar when compared to patients
without NAFLD (1100 ± 361,5 Kcal/day and 1207,5 ± 319,7 kcal/day, p = 0,37 respectively).
There was no difference between the two groups of patients regarding the classification of
BMI and body composition. Conclusion: The energy released to perform the body
metabolism in patients with HCV and NAFLD does not differ from those with HCV without
NAFLD, whereas these two groups of patients had the same anthropometric characteristics
and body composition.
