AMINO ACID THERAPY FOR HEPATITIS C

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AMINO ACID THERAPY FOR HEPATITIS C

from http://www.healthyhepper.com/aminoacids.htm

 

WHAT ARE AMINO ACIDS? AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT TO THOSE WITH HEPATITIS C

(HCV)?

 

Amino acids are the " building blocks " of protein, protein is necessary to

sustain life. Since the liver plays an important role in assimilating amino

acids, poor liver function (as can be caused by hepatitis C) can affect overall

levels negatively.

 

" Amino Acid Therapy " is a branch of medicine that is used for all kinds of

disorders and disease. Matthew Dolan explains the overall importance of amino

acids with respect to Hepatitis C patients and the idea behind a therapy that

emphasizes amino acid therapy, " ... it is founded on the belief that some

individuals or sections of the population have imbalanced amino acid profiles

that are associated with ill health. The aim of the therapy is the correction of

these imbalances... it appears that HCV patients constitute a group with a

serious pattern of deficiency. " It is thought by therapists that correcting the

deficiency and maintaining the proper balance of amino acids can assist in

healing Hepatitis C and improvement in health.

 

Here is a condensed list of facts about the functions of amino acid and their

importance in the body (for a more detailed explanation of these refer to the

book Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James F Balch):

 

Proteins are chains of amino acids linked together by what are called peptide

bonds

 

Each protein in the body is tailored for a specific need and they are not

interchangeable

 

Proteins that make up the human body are not obtained directly from diet.

Protein from the diet is broken down into amino acids which the body uses to

build the specific proteins it needs.

 

Amino acids enable vitamins and minerals to perform their functions. Vitamins

and minerals that are absorbed and assimilated into the body they cannot be

effective unless the necessary amino acids are present.

 

The liver produces about 80% of the amino acids needed. The remaining 20% must

be obtained by the diet.

 

Essential amino acids must enter the body through diet, whereas nonessential

amino acids can be manufactured by the body from other amino acids obtained from

dietary sources.

 

Nonessential amino acids does not mean they unnecessary, it means the body

manufactures them.

 

The phrase branched-chain amino acids or BCAA is sometimes used to refer to the

amino acids having aliphatic side-chains that are non-linear. These are leucine,

isoleucine and valine.

 

If even one essential amino acid is missing, the body cannot continue proper

protein synthesis

 

Even if you have a well balanced diet that contains enough protein, there are

many factors that can contribute to deficiencies of amino acids: impaired

absorption, stress, drug use, age, infection among others.

 

Having a high protein diet is not the answer to getting more amino acids, since

excess protein puts stress on the liver.

 

You can get amino acids from various multivitamin formulas, protein mixtures,

food supplements and amino acid formulas. The majority of amino acid supplements

are derived from animal protein, yeast protein, or vegetable protein.

 

Some amino acids are NOT available from vegetable protein. Therefore, if you are

a vegan or vegetarian, you are more susceptible to amino acid deficiency because

protein in plant sources doesn't contain all the amino acids that your body

needs.

 

Amino acid therapy is thought to be helpful in improving the health of those

living with Hepatitis C and it is also used by some for reducing depression and

anxiety.

 

Review of research shows, " Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA)supplementation

appears to be associated with decreased frequency of complications of cirrhosis

and improved nutritional status when prescribed as maintenance therapy [for

those with liver disease] " .