Abstract: Compositions that contain valine as an active ingredient but which are entirely free of other amino acids or substantially free of amino other acids as an active ingredient are used as drugs or foods for treating or ameliorating hepatic diseases, whereupon less side effects are caused than in the conventional regimens of pharmacotherapy and yet the compositions ameliorate, palliate or gain recovery from symptoms and abnormalities that are caused by such hepatic diseases, for example, fever, lassitude, loss of appetite, vomiting stomachache, ascites and pleural effusion, or complications of hepatic disease (not including hepatic encephalopathy).