Which Supplements do You Recommend for Hepatitis C?

[Guest guest]

Which Supplements do You Recommend for Chronic Hepatitis C?

 

Statistics from the World Health Organization estimates that 350 million

individuals have chronic hepatitis. The most serious form of chronic hepatitis

is chronic hepatitis C (CHC). It is suspected that there are, at present, more

than 5 million people in the United States that are infected with CHC, and

perhaps as many as 200 million around the world (that is roughly 5% of the

world's population). The death rate from hepatitis C exceeds that from AIDS.

 

The drug of choice in conventional medicine for chronic hepatitis is

alpha-interferon, a very expensive treatment that produces benefit in only about

1/3 of cases. Fortunately, several natural compounds exert some benefits of

their own and may also improve the effective of alpha-interferon. In particular,

glucuronate, silybin phytosome, and a component from licorice root have all

shown promise.

 

Before discussing these supplements, let me first prescribe a dose of common

sense.

Avoid putting undue stress on the liver. Don't smoke; drink little or no

alcohol; avoid caffeine; and do your best to avoid harmful chemicals especially

cleaning solvents and pesticides.

 

The most important dietary guidelines for supporting good liver function are

also those that support good general health: avoid saturated fats, refined

sugar, and alcohol; drink at least 48 ounces of water each day; and consume

plenty of vegetables and legumes for their high fiber and nutrient content.

 

Certain foods are particularly helpful because they contain the nutrients your

body needs to produce and activate the dozens of enzymes involved in the various

phases of detoxification. Such foods include:

 

Garlic, legumes, onions, eggs, and other foods with a high sulfur content.

 

Good sources of water-soluble fibers, such as pears, oat bran, apples, and

legumes

Cabbage-family vegetables, especially broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.

Artichokes, beets, carrots, dandelion greens, and many herbs and spices such as

turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice.

 

Green foods like wheat grass juice, dehydrated barley grass juice, chlorella,

and spirulina.

 

In addition to these dietary recommendations, there are three key supplements

from Natural Factors that I recommend as a foundation for good health.

 

A high-potency multiple vitamin and mineral (MultiStart).

A high quality " greens " drink (Enriching Greens).

A pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement (RxOmega-3 Factors)

For people with hepatitis C, additional support is needed. I would highly

recommend taking one serving of DetoxiTech -- a scientifically designed drink

mix packed full of hypoallergenic protein and specific aids to detoxification

including fiber and substances designed to boost glutathione -- one of the

body's key molecules of detoxification.

 

Lastly, I would recommend taking Liver Health Formula from Natural Factors (two

capsules one to three times daily with dosage being based upon a person's size

and severity of viral load). Here is a brief description of each component:

 

Glucuronate is a nutritional substance used by the liver to bind to toxins to

help eliminate them from the system.

 

This process is used to detoxify many hormones; food additives; toxic components

of cigarette smoke, and many other harmful substances. In fact, of all the many

chemical reactions taking place in the liver cell, the attachment of glucuronate

to toxic substances is considered the most important.

 

When glucuronate is ingested as a dietary supplement it reduces the stress on

the liver and enhances the liver's ability to detoxify through glucuronidation.

 

Clinical studies have shown glucuronate supplementation can improve liver

function considerably even in cases of poor liver function due to alcohol abuse,

acute and chronic hepatitis, exposure to toxic substances, and diabetes.

 

 

Alpha-Lipoic Acid is a sulfur-containing vitamin-like substance that plays an

important role as the necessary cofactor in two vital energy-producing reactions

involved in the production of cellular energy (ATP).

 

Lipoic acid is an effective antioxidant. It is unique in that it is effective

against both water and fat soluble free radicals. It protects the liver from

free radical damage and also helps promote detoxification reactions. Preliminary

clinical evidence has shown benefits to people with hepatitis and cirrhosis of

the liver.

 

 

Silybin Phytosome is a special extract of milk thistle bound to

phosphatidylcholine. A growing body of scientific research indicates that

Silybin Phytosome is better absorbed and produces better results than regular

milk thistle extract.

 

Silybin Phytosome is one of the most potent liver-protecting substances known.

It protects the liver by:

Acting as a direct antioxidant and free radical scavenger.

Increasing the intracellular content of antioxidant compounds.

Stimulating the formation of new liver cells to replaced those that are damaged.

 

 

Licorice extract contains glycyrrhetinic acid, the active component that has

been shown to protect the liver from damage, enhance the immune system,

potentiate the effect of the immune-enhancing agent interferon, and to aid the

liver in detoxification reactions. Clinical studies with a glycyrrhetinic acid

product in Japan have shown excellent results in supporting individuals with

both acute and chronic hepatitis.

 

 

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa) -- the chief

ingredient in curry. Curcumin has demonstrated significant activity in many

experimental and clinical studies. Many of its beneficial effects are attributed

to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It has been shown to improve

liver function and promote improved clearance of toxic compounds by the liver.

 

 

Panax ginseng Phytosome. Long revered for its tonic effects, Panax ginseng

exerts significant effects on enhancing liver function including helping to

regulate the manufacture of proteins and filtration of the blood.

 

 

Schizandra Berry Extract. The fully ripe, sun-dried fruit of schizandra has been

a classic component in Traditional for centuries. Some of the

effects noted in scientific studies include antioxidant effects; an anti-stress

action, much like ginseng, in helping to combat fatigue and stress; an ability

to protect the liver from chemical damage.

 

Blood tests can be used to monitor the success of this program. In addition to

standard measures of liver function, I recommend blood measurement of the viral

load every three to six months. Please let me know how this program has worked

for you by e-mailing me at doctormurray.

 

www.doctormurray.com

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

, JoAnn Guest

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> Which Supplements do You Recommend for Chronic Hepatitis C?

 

 

For those who have Hep. C, I would highly recommend that you contact

Dr. Cathcart's office by going to http://www.othomed.com and get the

telephone number. Ask his office if they know of an orthomolecular

doctor in your area. Or anyone who will administer vitamin C in an

IV.

 

Or if you know of a doctor who will do it and then they can get the

instructions from his web site for IV use of vitamin C in general and

have them ask Cathcart's office for protocol for treatment of Hep. C.

 

He has had tremendous success with treating Hep C with IV vitamin C

in large doses. It is the best treatment that I know of. It really

works. Large amounts of Vitamin C will kill serious viral infections.

Klenner cured poio another virus with it back in the 1950's. No one

would listen then either.

 

For all intents amd purposes his patients become " cured " and has

never had anyone go into cirrosis, etc. The treatments are non toxic

and safe unlike all of the allopathic treatments.

 

IV vitamin C is the answer to most cases of Hep. C, but it will never

become well known or widely used. What counts is not the healing of a

patient, but what type of medicine that the industry wants to

practice and control to protect what economic end.

 

Frank

[Guest guest]

I was seriously thinking of using vit c therapy for hep c, and a

friend sent me this interesting info regarding vit c and iron uptake.

I don't know if there is a difference in taking it orally or thru IV

as far as the iron issue is concerned. Anyone know?

This is the article:

EXCESS IRON CAN DAMAGE LIVER, HOW CAN I LIMIT MY IRON UPTAKE?

It is overwhelming clear that excess iron (also known as " iron

overload " ) is one thing Hep C patients need to be aware of and avoid

diligently. Iron is needed by the virus to survive. Excess stores of

iron in the

blood and in the liver can cause progression of the disease and

further

damage to liver cells, which in turn could lead to fibrosis. We DO

NOT

want excess iron.

So the question has come up, what can Hep C patients do to mimimize

uptake of iron? Antoher question is, since vitamin C can enhance iron

absorption, should it be avoided as a supplement.

 

Let's talk about vitamin C, which is considered by many to have very

important antioxidant properties as well as anti-viral properties

(two

things Hep C patients need). Given all the wonderful things about

this

vitamin, many would conclude: the more the better. However, since it

has

been shown that vitamin C can increase levels of iron, in some cases,

this gives us a dilemma.

 

SUGGESTIONS REGARDING VITAMIN C

 

In reading about this subject from many different sources I have come

accross a number of suggestions.

 

DO NOT TAKE VITAMIN C WITH MEALS Some sources say that vitamin C

enhances iron only when taken at the same time. In other words, just

to avoid

taking vitamin C with a meal, when the dietary iron is consumed.

 

I think it is safe to assume that it is good advise not to take

supplemental vitamin C with a meal. If you take it, take it several

hours

after the meal.

 

TAKE CALCIUM WITH MEALS TO BLOCK IRON ABSORPTION:Soluble fibers such

as

psyllium seed husks (Metamucil), guar gum, and the pectins also help

to

block iron.

 

Many of the people in my E-groups take calcium to block iron

absorption. Here is what an abstract from Life Extension Foundation's

website

reads:

 

" Practical way of lowering iron is to interfere with its absorption

from food. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1998; 68:3-4)

stated that if 300 mg of calcium were taken with a meal, the amount

of iron

absorbed would be reduced by 40%. That's a simple and inexpensive way

to reduce iron in the blood. In order to obtain 300 mg of calcium, it

is

necessary to take a calcium supplement that supplies 300 mg of

elemental calcium. The best way of doing this is to take one to two

1000-mg

capsules of calcium citrate with every meal that contains iron. Each

1000-mg calcium citrate capsule provides 220 mg of elemental calcium.

Another calcium supplement called Bone Assure would provide 333 mg of

elemental calcium (and other important minerals) per 2-capsule dose.

According

to the published studies, the maximum amount of calcium that will

inhibit iron absorption is 300 mg with each meal. Amounts of calcium

greater

than 300 mg do not cause any additional interference with iron !

absorption. It is important to note that some people become tolerant

to calcium-induced iron-absorption blockage after several months, so

if

calcium provides a sudden reduction in serum iron levels, make sure

it

continues to work by having regular blood tests. Soluble fibers such

as

psyllium seed husks (Metamucil), guar gum, and the pectins also help

to

block iron (and other mineral) absorption. "

 

TAKE A MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT (200 mgs elemental magnesium)

 

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR IRON LEVELS

 

SUPPLEMENTS:

 

GREEN TEA POLYPHENOLS 300-900 mg/day - avilable in " green tea " and

also

as a nutrional supplement.

 

Life Extension Foundation website (lef.org) provides this information

about tannins in tea:

 

" A recent study in the U.K. journal Gut, indicates that drinking

black

tea rich in tannin with meals can reduce iron absorption. The control

group drank water with meals; the study group drank tea with meals.

Intestinal iron absorption was measured by studying serum iron

binding

capacity and serum ferritin. Results showed a significant reduction

in the

study group as opposed to the control group. The goal then is to use

the drinking of black tea to reduce phlebotomy frequency in the

management of patients with hemochromatosis. "

 

" A potent iron-chelating agent is green tea extract. Green tea is an

antioxidant that helps to remove excess iron from the liver.

Hemochromatosis patients should take 4 to 10 green tea extract

capsules with at

least 250 mg of active polyphenols per capsule. "

 

VITAMIN B 6 - Considered by some sources to be a good supplement to

block iron absorption, especially when vitamin C is present.

 

MILK THISTLE - silymarin is considered to have increased iron

chelation.

 

IP6 (aka PHYTIC ACID) IP6 binds to iron (also known as phytic acid)

IP-6 reduces the number of free radicals by binding with iron, states

Dr.

Shamsuddin. Hydrogen peroxide is another by-product of energy

production in the cells. If there is iron in the vicinity, hydrogen

peroxide

will react with it and form hydroxyl free radicals. IP-6 locks up

excess

iron, thus preventing this harmful reaction from taking place.

 

Phytic Acid - Phytic acid found in bran helps is an antioxidant and

mineral chelator (binding agent). It removes only excess minerals--

not

those bound to proteins. Like EDTA (the agent used in chelation

therapy to

remove heavy metals from the body), phytic acid is used as a food

preservative and is available as a supplement. If you are anemic,

taking

phytic acid will make you feel weaker. If you have too much iron, the

supplement will make you feel stronger.Go to Phytic Acid

 

SOY PRODUCTS

 

Another important component in soybeans is called phytic acid. This

acts as an antioxidant and protects against damage from harmful free

radicals. By binding to iron, phytic acid reduces the amount of

oxidation

caused by iron in the body, thereby reducing the number of free

radicals.

Researchers suggest this is how soybeans help lower the incidence of

colon cancer and protect against other inflammatory bowel diseases.

 

LACTOFERRIN MAY BIND AND TRANSPORT EXCESS IRON IN THE BODY Inhibits

Bacterial Growth—The name lactoferrin itself suggests its biological

activity. It refers to this protein's ability to bind and transport

iron in

the body (ferrum is the Latin root for iron). Lactoferrin's ability

to

lock up iron is probably the reason it's capable of killing or

inhibiting infectious bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These

organisms need

iron to proliferate, but lactoferrin, by absorbing excess iron in the

body, deprives them of this necessary nutrient. Studies indicate that

lactoferrin may be able to bind to and damage the cell membranes of

some

bacteria, an anti-bacterial effect independent of its iron-binding

ability. LACTOFERRIN

 

TIPS FOR KEEPING IRON TO A MINIMUM

 

1. Avoid alcohol

 

2. Avoid breakfast cereals high in iron

 

3. Avoid red meat

 

4. Avoid cooking in cast iron cookware

 

5. Avoid raw shellfish

 

6. Avoid taking vitamin C with meals (or drinking citrus juice at

meals)

 

SOME THERAPIES USED TO COMBAT IRON OVERLOAD

 

PHLEBOTOMY This is an iron reduction therapy involving " blood-

letting " .

 

CHELATION THERAPY I found some information on this " controversial "

therapy at the Alternative Medicine.com website: Go to

alternativemedicine.com and enter " chelation therapy " as a search

word. CHELATION THERAPY

 

" Chelation refers to the ability of a chemical compound to grab on to

a

mineral. Chelation therapy is used to remove toxic minerals (such as

lead) and metabolic wastes from the body. It also increases blood

flow

and removes arterial plaque. Basically, chelation removes charged

minerals, but in doing so, it also may help your body's enzymes to

function

better, thus directly leading to the elimination of toxic wastes. "

 

" In chelation, the patient recieves a series of EDTA infusions, plus

vitamin C, magnesium, and other ingredients, given in the doctor's

office. Usually 2 infusions per week are given, lasting 3 hours each.

Most

patients get at least 20 to 30 infusions, each costing between $90-

$125

per infusion. Unfortunately, because mainstream medicine does not

accept

this approach for treating heart and blood vessel disease, Medicare

and

most other insurance plans do not reimburse for this therapy. "

 

" Although most conventional physicians believe no medical literature

exists to support the use of EDTA chelation therapy for heart

disease,

this is not true. At least 40 clinical studies have been published

and 38

show positive results. Meanwhile, you should know that hundreds of

physicians in the U.S. and other countries believe chelation therapy

is the

best available treatment for these conditions. "

 

" With regard to safety, the American College for Advancement in

Medicine (ACAM), which conducts workshops for doctors on chelation

therapy,

estimates that at least 500,000 patients have received this therapy

without a single death attributable to EDTA, when the ACAM protocol

is

followed. This makes it one of the safest therapies of modern

medicine. "

 

COLONICS Coffee retention enemas (retained for about 15 minutes) are

reported to have a powerful impact and can also eliminate excess

iron.

Some people use chamomile instead. I read about this in Matthew

Dolan's

book The Hepatitis C Handbook.

 

WHO IS AT RISK FOR IRON OVERLOAD?

 

It is my conclusion from what I have read that Hep C patients in

general have a tendency more so than " normal " helathy individuals to

store

iron. However, amongst Hep C patients, males have more of a tendency

to

store iron than females (due to menstuation in females). A quote from

The Hep C Handbook by Matthew Dolan, " males have been observed to

suffer

from more seere liver disease and faster progression... higher levels

of iron are linked to disease progression. " It is also known that

patients with a history of drinking tend to have higher levels of

iron

deposition in the liver cells.

 

Patients with beta-thalassemia major and sickle cell anemia who

suffer

from iron overload due to regular blood transfusions or excessive

destruction of red blood cells need specialized medical treatment

with iron

chelators and should also control their intake of iron. It is advised

that vitamin C be generally avoided by people with these condtions

due

to the fact that vitamin C facilitates the uptake of iron.

 

A mild to moderate iron excess is found in patients with liver

diseases

apparently unrelated to genetic hemochromatosis. Iron appears to

affect

the natural history of hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver

diseases, alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by

leading

to a more severe fibrosis and thus aiding the evolution to cirrhosis.

A

higher frequency of mutations of the HFE gene, the gene responsible

for

hereditary hemochromatosis, is found in patients with liver diseases

and increased liver iron than in normal patients. Patients with

excess

iron are potentially at a higher risk of developing hepatocellular

carcinoma. Iron depletion therapy could interfere with fibrosis

development

and possibly reduce the risk of liver cancer occurrence.

 

VITAMIN C CAN INCREASE IRON UPTAKE, HEP C PATIENTS SHOULD AVOID IRON

 

Vitamin C may have a dark side. Vitamin C increases iron uptake and

hypothetically this could lead to iron accumulation in those with an

inherited tendency to store iron. That is, unless the Iron is water-

soluble.

(See Iron in the Mineral Section). Iron and vitamin C spontaneously

form free radicals (prooxidant effect). Excessive vitamin C

supplementation together with excessive iron storage may be

detrimental. However,

under usual physiologic conditions, the amount of free iron would

likely

be very small; it would be stored in the iron binding protein

FERRITIN.

With injury or inflammation some iron could be released and could

react

with hydrogen peroxide to produce damaging free radicals. In

susceptible people large amounts of vitamin C could promote the

appearance of

oxalate in the urine, thus increasing the risk of kidney stones.

Supplementing with magnesium and extra vitamin B6 can diminish this

risk. To see

internet resource on this topic

 

To see a list of side effects of excessive vitamin C supplements

 

DR. REICHEN

 

I sent an email to Dr. Reichen regarding this topic and he wrote me

back with this answer:

 

" The value of high dose vitamin C has never been proven but some

people

- even Nobel prize winners - firmly believed in it. I have some

patients who swear on it - all I can say it does not affect their

viral load.

Vitamin C clearly enhances uptake of iron in all people; my guess is

that it does this more in patients heterozygote for HFE (the

hemochromatosis gene) since they cannot fully control their iron

uptake. Thus, in a

patient with already high iron loads I would definitively recommend

*against* high dose vitamin C supplementation. If the patient were to

insist I would advise him/her to have phlebotomies - this has clearly

been

shown to improve liver histology. In in vitro systems (liver

mitochondria) vitamin C at usual concentrations (even those you

attain with high

dose vitamin C) vitamin C is a pro-oxidant. Only at very high

concentrations (not attainable by supplementation) will it become an

antioxidant. "

 

High-dose vitamin C: a risk for persons with high iron stores?

 

Source: Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1999 Mar;69(2):67-82 Author: Gerster H

Institution: Vitamin Research Department, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd,

Basel,

Switzerland.

 

Abstract: The contribution of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to the

prevention of iron deficiency anemia by promoting the absorption of

dietary

non-heme iron-especially in persons with low iron stores--is well

established. But the question has been raised whether high-dose

intakes of

vitamin C might unduly enhance the absorption of dietary iron in

persons

with high iron stores or in patients with iron overload, possibly

increasing the potential risk of iron toxicity. Extensive studies

have shown

that overall the uptake and storage of iron in humans is efficiently

controlled by a network of regulatory mechanisms. Even high vitamin C

intakes do not cause iron imbalance in healthy persons and probably

in

persons who are heterozygous for hemochromatosis. The uptake, renal

tubular

reabsorption and storage of vitamin C itself are also strictly

limited

after high-dose intake so that no excessive plasma and tissue

concentrations of vitamin C are produced. The effect of high-dose

vitamin !

C on iron absorption in patients with iron overload due to homozygous

hemochromatosis has not been studied. Of special importance is the

early identification of hemochromatosis patients, which is assisted

by the

newly developed PCR test for hereditary hemochromatosis.

 

Specific treatment consists of regular phlebotomy and possibly

iron-chelating therapy. These patients should moreover avoid any

possibility of

facilitated absorption of iron and need to limit their intake of

iron.

Patients with beta-thalassemia major and sickle cell anemia who

suffer

from iron overload due to regular blood transfusions or excessive

destruction of red blood cells need specialized medical treatment

with iron

chelators and should also control their intake of iron. The serum of

patients with pathological iron overload can contain

non-transferrin-bound iron inducing lipid peroxidation with

subsequent consumption of

antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C. The role of iron in

coronary

heart disease and cancer is controversial. Early suggestions that

moderately elevated iron stores are associated with an increased risk

of CHD

have not been confirmed by later studies. In vitro, ascorbic acid can

act as a prooxidant in the presence of transition metals such as i!

ron or copper, but in the living organism its major functions are as

an antioxidant. High intakes of vitamin C have thus not been found to

increase oxidative damage in humans.

 

Accordingly, the risk of CHD or cancer is not elevated. On the

contrary, most studies have shown that diets rich in vitamin C are

inversely

related to the incidence of these diseases.

[Guest guest]

I met a woman who cleared her HepC through Ozone Treatments -

administered through Gary Null's nurse here in NYC.

 

Lynn

 

, JoAnn Guest

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> Which Supplements do You Recommend for Chronic Hepatitis C?

>