Its a new year, right?
Yep, its 2012, a time for shaping up, eating right and addressing all those unhealthy habits from 2011. Enter - liver disease, hepatitis C, and a few healthy ways to improve liver health.
Note To Self ?
1-I promise to spend only 8 hours on the computer-Not 12.
2-I promise to only smoke when I tweet- Abstain on facebook.
3-I promise to watch less TV- Only stream Netflix to my computer.
4-I promise to stop eating fast food-Only eat from the dollar menu.
5- I promise to give up alcohol-Only drink on weekends.
6-I promise to detox my liver in January-Can't wait for February.
1-I promise to spend only 8 hours on the computer-Not 12.
2-I promise to only smoke when I tweet- Abstain on facebook.
3-I promise to watch less TV- Only stream Netflix to my computer.
4-I promise to stop eating fast food-Only eat from the dollar menu.
5- I promise to give up alcohol-Only drink on weekends.
6-I promise to detox my liver in January-Can't wait for February.
I sure hope this doesn't sound like you. If you're one of the millions of people who start off January in liver rehab, but end up in February with a liver relapse, consider a life long commit to your liver.
Is it time to detox your liver?
Recently, the British Liver Trust launched a national awareness campaign for the month of January, with an emphasis on the increased risk of liver disease from alcohol use. The campaign also advises that eating well and regular exercise should be an ongoing effort.
Some advice on that "January liver detox" from Andrew Langford, the chief executive from the British Liver Trust.
“While people believe the hype and go on January detoxes to 'rejuvenate' their liver, it would actually be more beneficial to adopt a more long-term attitude to achieving good liver health. People think they're virtuous with their health by embarking on a liver detox each January with the belief that they are cleansing their liver of excess following the festive break. A one-hit, one-month attempt to achieve liver health is not the way to approach it. You're better off making a resolution to take a few days off alcohol a week throughout the entire year than remaining abstinent for January only.”
Is it time to detox your liver?
Recently, the British Liver Trust launched a national awareness campaign for the month of January, with an emphasis on the increased risk of liver disease from alcohol use. The campaign also advises that eating well and regular exercise should be an ongoing effort.
Some advice on that "January liver detox" from Andrew Langford, the chief executive from the British Liver Trust.
“While people believe the hype and go on January detoxes to 'rejuvenate' their liver, it would actually be more beneficial to adopt a more long-term attitude to achieving good liver health. People think they're virtuous with their health by embarking on a liver detox each January with the belief that they are cleansing their liver of excess following the festive break. A one-hit, one-month attempt to achieve liver health is not the way to approach it. You're better off making a resolution to take a few days off alcohol a week throughout the entire year than remaining abstinent for January only.”
Hepatitis C and Alcohol
However, its a different story if you're living with hepatitis C. Taking a few days off from drinking alcohol a week isn't in the plan.
If you have HCV - Drinking alcohol is associated with a 30 times increased risk of cirrhosis.
If you have HCV - Drinking alcohol during HCV therapy will interfere with antiviral effectiveness and treatment adherence.
If you have HCV - Studies have shown that alcohol abuse increases your chance for death, compared to those who have hepatitis C and do not drink.
If you have HCV - and alcoholic liver disease, the chance of developing HCC is higher than if you have hepatitis C alone.
First Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
According to The Hepatitis Foundation International
Vitamins
What about using antioxidant supplements such as; (beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, or selenium) for improving liver health?
Excessive amounts of some vitamins may be an additional source of stress to the liver that must act as a filter for the body. Mega-vitamin supplements, particularly if they contain vitamins A and D, may be harmful. Excess vitamin A is very toxic to the liver.
Reported in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011 Issue 3 , no beneficial evidence was found for using antioxidant supplements for the treatment of liver diseases.
If you have HCV - Drinking alcohol is associated with a 30 times increased risk of cirrhosis.
If you have HCV - Drinking alcohol during HCV therapy will interfere with antiviral effectiveness and treatment adherence.
If you have HCV - Studies have shown that alcohol abuse increases your chance for death, compared to those who have hepatitis C and do not drink.
If you have HCV - and alcoholic liver disease, the chance of developing HCC is higher than if you have hepatitis C alone.
First Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
According to The Hepatitis Foundation International
You'll need to stop drinking completely to give your liver a break - a chance to heal, a chance to rebuild, a chance for new liver cells to grow. This means avoiding beer, wine, cocktails, champagne, and liquor in any other form. If you continue to drink, your liver will pay the price, and if your doctor is checking your liver function tests, it may be hard to determine if a change in a test means there has been damage to your liver due to the disease itself or because of the alcohol.
Vitamins
What about using antioxidant supplements such as; (beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, or selenium) for improving liver health?
Excessive amounts of some vitamins may be an additional source of stress to the liver that must act as a filter for the body. Mega-vitamin supplements, particularly if they contain vitamins A and D, may be harmful. Excess vitamin A is very toxic to the liver.
Reported in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011 Issue 3 , no beneficial evidence was found for using antioxidant supplements for the treatment of liver diseases.
Beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E cannot be recommended for treatment of liver diseases.View the abstract here.
An imbalance between too much oxidative stress and too little antioxidative defence has been suggested to cause a variety of liver diseases. Therefore, antioxidant supplements (beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) could have a potential role in patients with liver disease. The evidence on whether antioxidant supplements are effective in treatment of liver diseases is contradictory.
In this review treatment with antioxidant supplements of alcoholic, autoimmune, hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus liver diseases, or liver cirrhosis is assessed.
The review includes 20 randomised clinical trials. In total, 1225 participants were randomised to antioxidant supplements (beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) versus placebo or no intervention. The low number of randomised participants increases the risk of random errors ('play of chance'). Trial quality was low and accordingly the risk of systematic errors ('bias') was high.
Based on the conducted randomised clinical trials, convincing evidence that beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E or their combinations are beneficial for treatment of alcoholic, autoimmune, hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus liver diseases, or liver cirrhosis could not be found.
What about vitamin D ?
In the January 2012 hepatitis C newsletter from HCV Advocate a study on vitamin D3 supplementation was highlighted, more below, click here to view the abstract.
Article
In the January 2012 hepatitis C newsletter from HCV Advocate a study on vitamin D3 supplementation was highlighted, more below, click here to view the abstract.
Article
Vitamin D: An Innate Antiviral Agent Suppressing Hepatitis C Virus in Human Hepatocyte –
Gal-Tanamy M, Bachmetov L, Ravid A, Koren R, Erman A, Tur-Kaspa1R, Zemel R. Source: Hepatology; Volume 54, Issue 5, pages 1570–1579, November 2011.
Should People With Hepatitis Be Tested for Vitamin D ?
Presented at last years DDW, researchers reported that low levels of vitamin D were found in 64% of patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C. The study was was based on 2,312 viral hepatitis patients treated at Weill Cornell Medical Center between 2007 and 2009.
Among these patients, 395 of 2,312 had been tested for vitamin D levels. In those tested, 122 of 395 were vitamin D insufficient and 132 of 395 were vitamin D deficient.
View the complete article written by David Wild here or here.
Gal-Tanamy M, Bachmetov L, Ravid A, Koren R, Erman A, Tur-Kaspa1R, Zemel R. Source: Hepatology; Volume 54, Issue 5, pages 1570–1579, November 2011.
This study looked at the connection between vitamin D3 supplementation and improved response rates to treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The research showed the various pathways that vitamin D3 uses, showing the antiviral properties of vitamin D3 particularly during interferon treatment. Researchers noted that vitamin D3 combined with interferon alfa has a synergistic relationship (the drug interactions are magnified, in this case in a beneficial way).
Also noted was that vitamin D3 combined with interferon alfa decreases viral production more than interferon alfa without vitamin D3.
The Bottom Line: Vitamin D3 may have a significant impact on HCV and treatment for it.
Should People With Hepatitis Be Tested for Vitamin D ?
Presented at last years DDW, researchers reported that low levels of vitamin D were found in 64% of patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C. The study was was based on 2,312 viral hepatitis patients treated at Weill Cornell Medical Center between 2007 and 2009.
Among these patients, 395 of 2,312 had been tested for vitamin D levels. In those tested, 122 of 395 were vitamin D insufficient and 132 of 395 were vitamin D deficient.
View the complete article written by David Wild here or here.
Institute of Medicine Weighs In On Vitamin D
In 2010 the Institute of Medicine (IOM ) released new guidelines for vitamin D.
Published at Medpage
Because the IOM could not find evidence to support extraskeletal benefit for vitamin D or calcium, the authors of the report decided to base daily intake recommendations on the amount needed for the maintenance of bone health.
In 2010 the Institute of Medicine (IOM ) released new guidelines for vitamin D.
Published at Medpage
Because the IOM could not find evidence to support extraskeletal benefit for vitamin D or calcium, the authors of the report decided to base daily intake recommendations on the amount needed for the maintenance of bone health.
For calcium, they reported that children ages 1 to 3 need about 500 mg each day, and those between 4 and 8 have an average requirement of 800 mg a day. The requirement rises to 1,300 mg a day for adolescents, who experience growth spurts and enhanced bone growth, and falls back to 800 mg each day for adults up to the age of 70.
Women between 50 and 70 are exceptions; they should be receiving 1,000 mg of calcium a day, as should all adults 71 and older.
Dietary Reference Intakes For Calcium and Vitamin D
Click On Image To Enlarge
Hepatitis C; Vitamins And Liver Disease
. Fat soluble vitamins (especially vitamins A, D, and E) can accumulate in the liver, and if taken in "megadose" quantities may damage even normal livers. Vitamin A is perhaps the most toxic of this group with accidental overdosages causing fulminant liver failure. For this reason, no more than standard recommended daily allowances (RDA's) of vitamins A, D and E are suggested for those with liver disease, regardless of the cause. Vitamin K is also a fat soluble vitamin, supplements of Vitamin K generally are not taken, nor are they recommended.
.Iron and Vitamin C
Some people with hepatitis C, particularly those with cirrhosis, have above-average levels of iron in their body. Too much iron can damage organs.
If these people take multivitamin/mineral pills, they should take the ones without iron. These pills usually are marketed as formulas for men or adults over 50. These people also should avoid taking large doses of vitamin C because vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.
.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, if taken in doses larger than the recommended 10,000 IU, can harm the liver. Vitamin A is even more toxic in someone who drinks alcohol.
You won't get too much vitamin A from food, but be careful taking routine dietary supplements with high doses. There's a non-toxic form of vitamin A, present in many fruits and vegetables, called beta-carotene. If you take vitamin A supplements, look for those with beta-carotene.
You won't get too much vitamin A from food, but be careful taking routine dietary supplements with high doses. There's a non-toxic form of vitamin A, present in many fruits and vegetables, called beta-carotene. If you take vitamin A supplements, look for those with beta-carotene.
.
Vitamin EResearchers are looking into ways that vitamin E can reduce risk of many diseases. But, current medical opinion is that the amount of vitamin E in a well-balanced diet is the safest amount to take.
.
Avoid supplements with doses greater than 400 IU. At high doses, vitamin E can thin the blood. This can be a problem for some people, so never take high-dose supplements without first talking to your doctor.
Avoid supplements with doses greater than 400 IU. At high doses, vitamin E can thin the blood. This can be a problem for some people, so never take high-dose supplements without first talking to your doctor.
.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is involved in blood clotting. It is present in the diet mostly in green vegetables. It also is produced by bacteria in the intestines. As mentioned above Vitamin K supplements are not generally used, or recommended.
Second Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
Visit -The Blog of Dr. Joseph S. Galati
Over at the physicians blog is an ongoing nutrition plan to start the new year.
Visit - The Web Site of Dr. Andrew Weil
Third Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
For people living with liver disease caution is advised when taking prescription drugs and over the counter (OTC) drugs.
Source
Medications for sleep in liver disease
Excerpt taken from an article written Read the full article here.
If you are treating HCV with one of the new FDA apporved protease inhibitors, know that other drugs you might be taking can cause serious drug interactions.
The list of drugs can be found at Medscape, along with a drug interaction checker.
Boceprevir - Telaprevir
*Free registration is required
Third Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
Diet and Your Liver
Overview
Poor nutrition is rarely a cause of liver disease, but good nutrition in the form of a balanced diet, may help liver cells damaged by hepatitis viruses to regenerate, forming new liver cells. Nutrition can be an essential part of treatment. Many chronic liver diseases are associated with malnutrition.
Watch the Protein
To quickly determine your daily protein in grams, divide your weight in pounds by 2. Too much daily protein may cause hepatic encephalopathy (mental confusion). This occurs when the amount of dietary protein is greater than the liver's ability to use the protein. This causes a build up of toxins that can interfere with brain function. Protein is restricted in patients with clinical evidence of encephalopathy. However, controversy exists regarding the type of protein a diet should contain. Vegetable and dairy protein may be tolerated better than meat protein. Medications, such as lactulose and neomycin, may be used to help control hepatitis-related encephalopathy. Due to the body's need for proteins, protein restriction should only be undertaken with a doctor's advice.
Watch the Calories.
Excess calories in the form of carbohydrates can add to liver dysfunction and can cause fat deposits in the liver. No more than 30% of a person's total calories should come from fat because of the danger to the cardiovascular system. To figure out your daily calorie needs, you'll need a minimum of 15 calories a day for each pound you weight.
Watch the Salt
Good nutrition also helps to maintain the normal fluid and electrolyte balances in the body. Patients with fluid retention and swelling of the abdomen (ascites), or the legs (peripheral edema), may need diets low in salt to avoid sodium retention that contributes to fluid retention. Avoiding foods such as canned soups and vegetables, cold cuts, dairy products, and condiments such as mayonnaise and ketchup can reduce sodium intake. Read food labels carefully as many prepared foods contain large amounts of salt. The best-tasting salt substitute is lemon juice.
Source
Final Tip
Learn as much as you can about hepatitis C, begin by reading the December 2011 updated fact sheet from HCV Advocate
Living with Hepatitis C:
Managing Common Symptoms
Lucinda K. Porter, R.N.
Alan Franciscus
Click here to view the upate
The Bottom Line
The best way to receive all the important vitamins and nutrients needed to insure a healthy liver is by eating a balanced diet. To learn more about a healthy diet for people living with liver disease click here.
Second Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
Visit -The Blog of Dr. Joseph S. Galati
Over at the physicians blog is an ongoing nutrition plan to start the new year.
Every day we are launching the January 2012 collection of daily blog entries for the “31 Days of Wellness”, our annual celebration of the New Year, and the opportunity to start anew as we ring in the New Year.Click here to visit
Visit - The Web Site of Dr. Andrew Weil
Getting healthy need not be overwhelming. Here are six simple, straightforward ways to get on track toward optimum health in 2012.Click here to visit
The anti-inflammatory diet can help you correct that: it points the way to food choices that can help you remain optimally healthy. Here's a link to the anti-inflammatory food pyramid. Print it out and post it on the fridge. Along with influencing inflammation, the diet will give you steady energy and provide all the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber you need.
Third Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
For people living with liver disease caution is advised when taking prescription drugs and over the counter (OTC) drugs.
Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in more than 200 other medications, including Nyquil and Anacin 3 as well as most over the counter standard pain killers. Despite the painkiller alternatives for hepatitus (HCV), it is advisable to speak with your doctor before trying anything to confirm that the painkiller is safe for you to use as most drugs may place additional liver strain on anyone living with Hepatitis C.
Ibuprofen – (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin and others) reduces high body temperature, is an anti-inflammatory and inhibits normal platelet function. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal upset and bleeding. Those at risk of portal hypertension are already at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, intensifying this risk. Studies have demonstrated that at certain dosages, ibuprofen can stress the liver and elevate liver enzymes in people with Hepatitis C. Ibuprofen must be used with extreme caution in the later stages of liver disease and for those on interferon therapy.
Aspirin – (Bayer, Anacin, Excedrin and others) reduces fever, relieves pain, and acts as an anti-inflammatory and blood thinner. In addition to influencing liver test results, aspirin’s effect on blood platelets temporarily limits the clotting process and prolongs bleeding. In chronic liver disease where the body’s production of clotting factors is naturally decreased, aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding. Although there is no actual drug interaction between aspirin and the drugs used in interferon therapy, both can disrupt blood clotting, which must be monitored if used together. When taken in high doses (more than 2,000 mg per day) aspirin can cause liver injury.
Source
Medications for sleep in liver disease
Excerpt taken from an article written Read the full article here.
Sleep medications are problematic in the context of liver disease and require careful monitoring and weighing of the risks and benefits. I have mentioned a few of the more commonly used medications for sleep, but this list is not all-inclusive.Drug Interactions Treating With Boceprevir or Telaprevir
Ambien (Zolpidem) is a commonly used medication that may help people who have difficulty falling asleep. Ambien may worsen encephalopathy in cirrhosis. Ambien has also been noted to worsen memory problems in patients on Interferon.
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine that was recently studied in a group of patients with cirrhosis. In very low doses, this may be a safe drug to use to treat insomnia on a short term basis. However, all antihistamines have the potential to worsen confusion. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is also an antihistamine which is sometimes used for insomnia. Patients quickly develop a tolerance to the sedative effect and may also experience side effects such as worsening confusion, dry mouth, urinary retention or constipation.
Lunesta (Eszopiclone) is a sleep medication with low abuse potential. An additional benefit is that tolerance does not appear to develop. Studies of this medication in patients with liver disease have not been conducted, but preliminary information suggests this may be a safer option for the treatment of insomnia.
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that is used primarily for sleep. It may be effective for patients who experience trouble falling asleep as well as staying asleep. It has a rare risk of priapism (an abnormal erection that will not resolve). In some studies, Trazodone has caused reversible abnormalities in liver function tests. Trazodone may cause dizziness or residual sedation during the day.
Benzodiazepine medications such as Xanax (Alprazolam), Restoril (Temazepam), or Klonopin (Clonazepam) may interfere with the amount of time spent in each stage of sleep (sleep architecture). Xanax is highly addictive and is not safe in liver disease. Benzodiazepines such as Restoril or Klonopin are safer in liver disease, but may worsen encephalopathy. Benzodiazepines and alcohol are a deadly combination and can cause respiratory depression. If benzodiazepines are abruptly stopped after long term use, a potentially life threatening withdrawal syndrome may result.
If you are treating HCV with one of the new FDA apporved protease inhibitors, know that other drugs you might be taking can cause serious drug interactions.
The list of drugs can be found at Medscape, along with a drug interaction checker.
Boceprevir - Telaprevir
*Free registration is required
Third Tip For Improving Liver Health In 2012
Diet and Your Liver
Overview
Poor nutrition is rarely a cause of liver disease, but good nutrition in the form of a balanced diet, may help liver cells damaged by hepatitis viruses to regenerate, forming new liver cells. Nutrition can be an essential part of treatment. Many chronic liver diseases are associated with malnutrition.
Watch the Protein
To quickly determine your daily protein in grams, divide your weight in pounds by 2. Too much daily protein may cause hepatic encephalopathy (mental confusion). This occurs when the amount of dietary protein is greater than the liver's ability to use the protein. This causes a build up of toxins that can interfere with brain function. Protein is restricted in patients with clinical evidence of encephalopathy. However, controversy exists regarding the type of protein a diet should contain. Vegetable and dairy protein may be tolerated better than meat protein. Medications, such as lactulose and neomycin, may be used to help control hepatitis-related encephalopathy. Due to the body's need for proteins, protein restriction should only be undertaken with a doctor's advice.
Watch the Calories.
Excess calories in the form of carbohydrates can add to liver dysfunction and can cause fat deposits in the liver. No more than 30% of a person's total calories should come from fat because of the danger to the cardiovascular system. To figure out your daily calorie needs, you'll need a minimum of 15 calories a day for each pound you weight.
Watch the Salt
Good nutrition also helps to maintain the normal fluid and electrolyte balances in the body. Patients with fluid retention and swelling of the abdomen (ascites), or the legs (peripheral edema), may need diets low in salt to avoid sodium retention that contributes to fluid retention. Avoiding foods such as canned soups and vegetables, cold cuts, dairy products, and condiments such as mayonnaise and ketchup can reduce sodium intake. Read food labels carefully as many prepared foods contain large amounts of salt. The best-tasting salt substitute is lemon juice.
Source
Final Tip
Learn as much as you can about hepatitis C, begin by reading the December 2011 updated fact sheet from HCV Advocate
Living with Hepatitis C:
Managing Common Symptoms
Lucinda K. Porter, R.N.
Alan Franciscus
Click here to view the upate
The Bottom Line
The best way to receive all the important vitamins and nutrients needed to insure a healthy liver is by eating a balanced diet. To learn more about a healthy diet for people living with liver disease click here.
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