What do 80,000 Louisianians, (yes, that's a word) have in

[HysteryDiagnosis]

common? HepC. There is a billboard here with that message on it, no kidding.

What the good doctor on Discovery Health fails to address whilst he is telling everyone how to live healthier, happier and longer is that there are multitudes out there who THROUGH DIET and EXERCISE ALONE will just not get there. Therefore, while he is busy disregarding the benefits of supplements that can help the liver deal with the toxic effects of alcohol, pesticides and medications, he misses the mark somewhat.

While Silimarin (Milk Thistle) has not been shown to be effective against the HepC virus, there are benefits that it posesses that could/does help the many who have liver issues and perhaps kidney issues as well.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for the therapy of liver disease.

* Flora K,
* Hahn M,
* Rosen H,
* Benner K.

Division of Gastroenterology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098, USA.

Silymarin, derived from the milk thistle plant, Silybum marianum, has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. As interest in alternative therapy has emerged in the United States, gastroenterologists have encountered increasing numbers of patients taking silymarin with little understanding of its purported properties. Silymarin and its active constituent, silybin, have been reported to work as antioxidants scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Studies also suggest that they protect against genomic injury, increase hepatocyte protein synthesis, decrease the activity of tumor promoters, stabilize mast cells, chelate iron, and slow calcium metabolism. In this article we review silymarin's history, pharmacology, and properties, and the clinical trials pertaining to patients with acute and chronic liver disease.

PMID: 9468229

How many persons with liver issues have been directed to check out the benefits of omega threes for their betterment?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15333967&query_hl=23&itool=pubmed_docsum

CONCLUSIONS: A decline in transaminase levels and normalization of ultrasonographic evidence of fatty liver were observed on treatment with omega-3 fatty acids in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, with atorvastatin in those with hypercholesterolemia, and orlistat in overweight patients with hyperlipidemia.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. I've never been directed to check out either of those!

I have a pretty bad liver, so it is worth looking into.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Here here, try to get PROFESSIONAL assistance while

looking into anything of the sort.... you may want to read up on Lipoic Acid if you are in dire straights.

1: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 Sep;39(8):737-42.Click here to read Links
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection via antioxidants: results of a phase I clinical trial.

* Melhem A,
* Stern M,
* Shibolet O,
* Israeli E,
* Ackerman Z,
* Pappo O,
* Hemed N,
* Rowe M,
* Ohana H,
* Zabrecky G,
* Cohen R,
* Ilan Y.

Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a defective host antiviral immune response and intrahepatic oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation play major roles in the fatty liver accumulation (steatosis) that leads to necro-inflammation and necrosis of hepatic cells. Previous trials suggested that antioxidative therapy may have a beneficial effect on patients with chronic HCV infection. AIMS: To determine the safety and efficacy of treatment of chronic HCV patients via a combination of antioxidants.

METHODS: Fifty chronic HCV patients were treated orally on a daily basis for 20 weeks with seven antioxidative oral preparations (glycyrrhizin, schisandra, silymarin, ascorbic acid, lipoic acid, L-glutathione, and alpha-tocopherol), along with four different intravenous preparations (glycyrrhizin, ascorbic acid, L-glutathione, B-complex) twice weekly for the first 10 weeks, and followed up for an additional 20 weeks. Patients were monitored for HCV-RNA levels, liver enzymes, and liver histology.

Assessment of quality of life was performed using the SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: In one of the tested parameters (eg, liver enzymes, HCV RNA levels, or liver biopsy score), a combination of antioxidants induced a favorable response in 48% of the patients (24). Normalization of liver enzymes occurred in 44% of patients who had elevated pretreatment ALT levels (15 of 34). ALT levels remained normal throughout follow-up period in 72.7% (8 of 11). A decrease in viral load (one log or more) was observed in 25% of the patients (12). Histologic improvement (2-point reduction in the HAI score) was noted in 36.1% of the patients. The SF-36 score improved in 26 of 45 patients throughout the course of the trial (58% of the patients). Treatment was well tolerated by all patients. No major adverse reactions were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that multi antioxidative treatment in chronic HCV patients is well tolerated and may have a beneficial effect on necro-inflammatory variables. A combination of antiviral and antioxidative therapies may enhance the overall response rate of these patients.

PMID: 16082287