Value of L3 skeletal muscle index in nutritional diagnosis of end-stage liver disease

Patients with end-stage liver disease often have malnutrition caused by reduced nutrient intake, increased energy consumption, impaired fasting adaptability, reduced liver glycogen reserve, and increased protein consumption. L3 skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) (skeletal muscle cross-sectional area at the level of L3/square of height) is an important indicator for evaluating malnutrition in end-stage liver disease, with the advantages of strong objectivity, little influence by water-sodium retention, and good repeatability. This article reviews the application of L3-SMI in the nutritional diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and liver transplantation. The analysis shows that L3-SMI can effectively evaluate nutritional status and the effect of nutritional intervention in patients with end-stage liver disease, and therefore, it is expected to become an important method for nutritional diagnosis in end-stage liver disease.