[Analysis of dietary composition in patients with liver cirrhosis: an observational study based on the database from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey].

Objective: To reveal the role of dietary composition in the onset and prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis by analyzing, exploring, and observing the correlational features between dietary composition and clinical indicators and mortality. Methods: A cirrhosis population was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey from 2001 to 2018. Patients with cirrhosis (155 cases) were matched with healthy controls (615 cases) in accordance with a 1:4 ratio. Data on 37 food patterns, clinical indicators such as personal medical history and laboratory tests, and the status and cause of death of patients were obtained from the database. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to identify influencing factors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to examine the impact of specific dietary intake on patient mortality. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with cirrhosis had higher daily alcohol consumption than healthy controls (OR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.03-1.19, P<0.01), while there was no statistically significant difference in food intake (P>0.05). Total starchy vegetable intake was lower in patients with cirrhosis than in controls (OR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.17-0.88, P=0.02) among the subgroup of patients with cirrhosis who drank alcohol. Total starchy vegetable intake was higher in patients with cirrhosis than in controls (OR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.01-2.38, P=0.04) among the subgroup of patients with cirrhosis who did not drink alcohol. Subgroup analysis by gender revealed that male patients with cirrhosis consumed less dark green vegetables (OR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.06-0.96, P=0.04), while female patients consumed more meat (OR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.05-1.54, P=0.01). Spearman analysis revealed no statistically significant correlation between any dietary composition and the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and mortality. Conclusion: Excessive intake of starchy vegetables and meat and insufficient intake of dark green vegetables may be associated with the onset of cirrhosis in non-drinking female and male populations, respectively, suggesting the potential significance of dietary factors in the course of cirrhotic diseases.