Evidence supporting the use of: Ornithine l-aspartic acid
For the health condition: Hepatitis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Ornithine l-aspartic acid (LOLA) is supported by scientific evidence for its use in the management of hepatic encephalopathy, a complication of advanced liver disease such as hepatitis. LOLA is a combination of the amino acids ornithine and aspartic acid, which play roles in the urea cycle and ammonia detoxification. Elevated blood ammonia levels are a key factor in the development of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with chronic liver diseases, including those caused by hepatitis.

Clinical studies and meta-analyses have shown that LOLA administration can significantly reduce blood ammonia concentrations and improve mental status in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. The drug works by enhancing the conversion of ammonia to urea in the liver, and to glutamine in skeletal muscle, thereby facilitating ammonia removal from the bloodstream. The European Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines mention LOLA as a therapeutic option for hepatic encephalopathy.

However, while LOLA is effective for hepatic encephalopathy, direct evidence supporting its use to treat hepatitis itself (i.e., to reduce liver inflammation or viral replication) is limited. Its use in hepatitis is primarily to manage the metabolic complications (like hyperammonemia) arising from impaired liver function, rather than to treat the underlying hepatic inflammation or viral infection. Thus, its use in hepatitis is justified as supportive therapy for complications, not as a primary treatment for the disease itself.

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