Re: Hepatitis C

[Guest guest]

From my files.......

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Glutathione is low in people with Hep C, probably as a result of viral load. 

Glutathione is hydrolyzed by intestinal GGT, and appears best to come from

sulfur-containing amino acids such as might be found in asparagus, avocados,

broccoli, spinach, garlic and unprocessed meats.  It can be enhanced with

vitamins C and E, and with NAC, selenium, silymarin (as you mentioned milk

thistle), and curcumin (turmeric).  

Alpha lipoic acid is an important metabolite in mitochondrial energy production,

and is apotent scabenger of free radicals.  It is popular in europe as a

treatment for hep C and other liver ailments.  It helps to raise glutathione

levels, as well as to recycle vitamin C and E. 

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Curcumin inhibits Hep C replication

 (Curcumin formulated as BCM-95 is 8 times more bioavailable than regular

curcumin.  A couple of brands that have it is Curcu-gel  and Curamin).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20026048 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/261832-antiviral-properties-of-curcumin/ 

http://www.bcm95.com/ 

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XYMOGEN (supplement manufacturer) has a formula called Liver Protect that

contains 200 mg ALA , 210 mg Silymarin (active component of milk thistle) 100

mcg selenium and 200 mg NAC per capsule. (Dose is generally 1 tid).   Xymogen

developed this formula based upon a German paper by Burton M. Berkson called, A

Conservative Antioxidant Approach to the treatment of Hepatitis C:  Combination

of Alpha Lipoic Acid, Silymarin and Selenium: Three Case Histories.  According

to an RD that works for Xymogen, practitioners using this formula have reported

good results.

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Milk Thistle Compound plus Vitamin E Benefits Patients with Hepatitis C

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference:     " Treatment with silybin-vitamin E-phospholipid complex

in patients with hepatitis C infection, " Falasca K, Ucciferri C, et al, J Med

Virol, 2008; 80(11): 1900-6. (Address: Jacopo Vecchiet, Clinic of Infectious

Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, G. D'Annunzio

University, School of Medicine, Via dei Vestini, Chieti 66100, Italy. E-mail:

Jacopo Vecchiet, jvecchiet@... ).

Summary:     In a

study involving 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection (HCV),

supplementation with a silybin-phospholipids and vitamin E complex (SPV

complex) for a period of 3 months was found to exert hepatoprotective,

anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects. 

Patients taking

the supplement (n=30) experienced reductions in serum levels of ALT and AST,

gammaGT, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulinemia,

HOMA value, C-reactive protein, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. The authors

conclude that supplementation with a combination of silybin (active agent found

in milk thistle) and vitamin E may, " …be useful in clinical practice in

patients with chronic hepatitis C who cannot undergo conventional antiviral

therapy. "  

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Acetyl-L-carnitine May Improve Health Quality of Life for Patients

with Hepatitis C

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference:     " The Supplementation of Acetyl-l-Carnitine Decreases

Fatigue and Increases Quality of Life in

Patients with Hepatitis C Treated

with Pegylated Interferon-a 2b Plus Ribavirin, " Malaguarnera M, Vacante M,

et 

al, J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2011 Sep; 31(9): 653-9. (Address: 

Research Center " The Great Senescence, " University of Catania ,

Catania, Italy. E-mail: malaguar@... ).

Summary:     In this study, researchers found that supplementation

with acetyl-L-carnitine may offer marked benefits to chronic hepatitis

B patients. Sixty patients with chronic hepatitis C underwent treatment with

pegylated-interferon-a 2b (Peg-IFN-a 2b) + ribavirin (RBV) (group A; n=29) or

Peg-IFN-a 2b + RBV + ALC (group

B; n=31) for 12 months. At the end of the study, patients treated with ALC

supplementation in conjunction with standard treatment benefited from lowered

levels of liver damage and a higher sustained virological response. They

also benefitted from greater mental and physical well-being and enjoyed an 

improved health related quality of life, which in turn might prompt better

adherence to treatment regime. These results suggest that supplementation with

acetyl-L-carnitine may be of significant benefit in decreasing fatigue and

improving quality of life in persons with hepatitis C.

> Hi everyone,

> 

> I was hoping for some assistance on the latest nutrition recommendations on

for patients with hepatitis C.  I have a patient who is morbidly obese with

hepatitis C.  FYI-She also has dementiaShe has a history of mildly depleted

albumin levels (around 3g/dl) and depleted prealbumin levels (around 16mg/dl). 

The patient's weight has remained relatively unchanged in the 7 years I have

known her.   She has a very good appetite.  I had her on a protein

supplement for awhile which did not impact her protein levels.  I did not think

there would be much change anyway because she has liver disease.  Is there

something

else I should be doing for this patient?

>

> Thanks for any suggestions.

> 

> Margie Hirsch MFCS,RD,LD

> 

>

>