Inclusion Criteria:  Diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver Child-Pugh score of 5-8  Exclusion Criteria:  Recent gastrointestinal bleeding (<3m) Active infection Overt encephalopathy Renal failure on dialysis Pedal edema Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1C > 7.9mg/dL) Advanced cardiac, lung, kidney disease Metastatic cancer Medications that alter muscle protein metabolism Pregnancy Recent bowel resection or gastric bypass surgery, INR >1.7, platelets <60,000/ml, serum creatinine >2mg/dL Medications that interfere with blood clotting