I know that for people with liver cirrhosis they lose weight because of lost appetite, but do they also lose weight do to the fact that the liver can't assist in digestion as much anymore? in patients with cirrhosis do nutrients often pass through?

YES: of liver tissue by fibrous scarring ultimately reduces the liver's ability to metabolize what the portal system delivers from the gut. Incomplete metabolism results in the symptoms of liver failure. THIS IS END STAGE and many more complications of chirrhosis are more likely to result in mortality from the disease before this occurs.

Water retention: The weight gain in patients with cirrhosis is generally due abnormal water retention, usually in the form of fluid accumulating in the abdomen, ascites.