Chronic liver diseases as a cause of sarcopenia development

The liver is a large organ, the mass of which exceeds 1% of the human body mass. The liver is involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and acts as a glycogen depot. Sarcopenia is a known complication of chronic liver disease, and is almost always observed in patients with cirrhosis, especially in patients with decompensated disease. It is of interest to study the mechanisms of pathogenesis of liver pathology as a cause of sarcopenia. Impaired synthesis of skeletal muscle protein and increased proteolysis by autophagy contribute to sarcopenia. Hyperammonemia is the most studied mediator of the liver-muscle axis. Against the background of hyperammonemia, increased expression of myostatin, impaired mitochondrial function and intermediate products of the tricarboxylic acid cycle are noted. Hormonal imbalance in the body, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, chronic inflammation, hypermetabolism and insulin resistance are important links in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. Sarcopenia occurs in the majority of patients with liver diseases. There are no effective methods to prevent or eliminate sarcopenia in liver diseases. This review discusses the main mechanisms of sarcopenia pathogenesis in chronic liver diseases. The liver is a large organ, the mass of which exceeds 1% of the human body mass. The liver is involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and acts as a glycogen depot. Sarcopenia is a known complication of chronic liver disease, and is almost always observed in patients with cirrhosis, especially in patients with decompensated disease. It is of interest to study the mechanisms of pathogenesis of liver pathology as a cause of sarcopenia. Impaired synthesis of skeletal muscle protein and increased proteolysis by autophagy contribute to sarcopenia. Hyperammonemia is the most studied mediator of the liver-muscle axis. Against the background of hyperammonemia, increased expression of myostatin, impaired mitochondrial function and intermediate products of the tricarboxylic acid cycle are noted. Hormonal imbalance in the body, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, chronic inflammation, hypermetabolism and insulin resistance are important links in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. Sarcopenia occurs in the majority of patients with liver diseases. There are no effective methods to prevent or eliminate sarcopenia in liver diseases. This review discusses the main mechanisms of sarcopenia pathogenesis in chronic liver diseases.