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The diet is low in carbohydrates and significantly reduces liver storage of glycogen, making the liver smaller and softer. This enables the surgeon to retract the liver more easily and safely with less risk of bleeding and maximises the intra-abdominal space in which to carry out the procedure.
What is the liver shrinkage diet? This is a diet low in fat, sugar and carbohydrates. The diet helps reduce the size of the liver by reducing glycogen stores (glycogen is a form of sugar stored in the liver and muscles for energy).
3 maj 2024 · A liver shrinking diet limits carbohydrates and fats. A doctor may recommend this type of diet before you undergo weight loss surgery. Learn more.
What does the diet involve? There are 3 approaches with the liver reduction diet. You should choose one of these options and stick to it for the duration. The diet is designed to provide approximately 800-1000 kcal (calories) per day. • Option 1 – Meal replacement shakes • Option 2 – Milk & yoghurt diet • Option 3 – Food-based diet.
If you are living with obesity and need laparoscopic upper gastro-intestinal surgery (keyhole surgery of the upper abdomen), you may need to undertake a liver reduction diet, so that your liver can be lifted out of the way during the procedure. This is necessary for procedures such as bariatric surgery, gall bladder surgery and fundoplication.
By following a liver shrinkage diet, your body will be forced to use up the stored carbohydrate (glycogen) from the liver. The glycogen and a quantity of water will leave the liver, and therefore liver will shrink and become softer, more flexible and easier to move during surgery.
The purpose of this structured low calorie and low carbohydrate diet is to reduce the size of your liver. This will allow your surgeon better access to your stomach and potentially decrease risk of complications and need to convert from a laparoscopic procedure to an open procedure.
