Milk Thistle benefits

[elpasolady]

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/08/hep_c_quality_o.html

FYI....This link  from Hepatitis C Central explains the advantages of taking Milk Thistle for anyone with Hep C, including taking it during treatment.  I just wanted to pass this on if any of you are currently NOT taking this supplement.  I have been taking this for years and am convinced that it has helped me.
I hope this helps someone out there!

[penn1023]

Thanks Magnum
I heard it's good to take buffered C. Also, someone told me that the ALA has to be from a pure European source. I found out that Bluebonnet brand is from Germany. Most others are from China. I am thinking about going on low dose naltrexone to lower my viral load in addition to a good supplement regimen.

[Magnum]

Vitamin C 500mg. daily = Kirkland (Costco)
Mature Multi Vitamins (one daily) = Kirkland
Pure Alaska Omega-3 Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil = PharmaPure Nutritionals
Concentrated Extract Milk Thistle 1000mg. daily = Spring Valley
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200mg 3 X weekly = Spring Valley
High Potency Vitamin D-3 2000iu daily = Spring Valley

Those are dosages and manufacturers brand...

Magnum

[nygirl7]

I'm pretty sure Dr. J said not to take it and he was the lead investigator of HALT-C - but not to take it during treatment. And I know years ago we were told no grapefruit - look how things change........

[penn1023]

What brands are you using in your supplement regimen?

[Boobert]

Jarrow fomulas 500mg Glutathine

[Magnum]

An interesting change appeared in all four (quarterly) blood works taken over the past year, the ALT and AST have been consistently lower than in the previous 9 years. Why? Good question. What have I done different than the Milk Thistle I've been taking for 6 years? Grapefruit Juice... I buy the Simply Grapefruit at Wal-Mart and drink a glass a day. I understand it has great benefits from the statement below. Keep in mind both ALT and AST were over 100 in every blood work for the past 9 years, with the exception of the past (10th) year. Now, they have been as low as 58 & 82 respectively. Could this statement below be the catalyst?

"Since HCV does not integrate its genetic material into the DNA of infected cells the way HIV does, totally clearing the virus is possible if new cells were not being infected. Therefore, interfering with the transport of HCV out of cells holds a great deal of therapeutic promise.

Scientists found that by blocking vLDL with a compound in grapefruit, Hepatitis C lost its vehicle and thus was stopped from expansion. Grapefruit's bitter taste is caused by the presence of the flavonoid naringin, which is metabolized into naringenin, an antioxidant known to reduce the secretion of vLDL from liver cells. The Massachusetts investigators confirmed that naringenin reduces the secretion of Hepatitis C from infected cells".

Another Grapefruit Advantage

Although focusing on a different component of the grapefruit, previous research supports the hepatic potential of grapefruit. Phytonutrients in grapefruit, called limonoids, inhibit tumor formation by promoting the formation of glutathione-S-transferase, a detoxifying enzyme. This enzyme sparks a reaction in the liver that helps to make toxic compounds more water soluble for excretion from the body.

Since those with chronic Hepatitis C are at a greater risk for developing cancer of the liver, inhibiting tumor formation is especially important. By helping the liver clear out cancer-causing toxins, limonoids’ promotion of detoxification enzymes is a simple way to ward off the development of cancer”...

There are cautions about grapefruit and certain medicines. This is the ONLY thing I’ve added to my supplement regiment in the past year or more. Could this be the catalyst for keeping my ALT and AST below 100 in every blood work? What else?

Read it all here: http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/02/what_you_need_t.html

Magnum