A Conservative Triple Antioxidant Approach to the Treatment of Hepatitis C. Alpha Lipoic Acid, Silymarin, and Selenium

[Guest guest]

A Conservative Triple Antioxidant Approach to the

Treatment of Hepatitis C. Combination of Alpha Lipoic

Acid (Thioctic Acid), Silymarin, and Selenium: Three

Case Histories

Berkson BM

Med Klin 1999 Oct 15;94 Suppl 3:84-9

Background: There has been an increase in the number

of adults seeking liver transplantation for hepatitis

C in the last few years and the count is going up

rapidly. There is no reliable and effective therapy

for chronic hepatitis C since interferon and

antivirals work no more than 30% of the time, and

liver transplant surgery is uncertain and tentative

over the long run. This is because, ultimately,

residual hepatitis C viremia infects the new liver.

Furthermore, liver transplantation can be painful,

disabling and extremely costly.

Treatment Program: The author describes a low cost and

efficacious treatment program in 3 patients with

cirrhosis, portal hypertension and esophageal varices

secondary to chronic hepatitis C infection. This

effective and conservative regimen combines 3 potent

antioxidants (alpha-lipoic acid [thioctic acid],

silymarin, and selenium) that possess antiviral, free

radical quenching and immune boosting qualities.

Conclusion: There are no remarkably effective

treatments for chronic hepatitis C in general use.

Interferon and antivirals have less than a 30%

response rate and because of the residual viremia, a

newly transplanted liver usually becomes infected

again. The triple antioxidant combination of

alpha-lipoic acid, silymarin and selenium was chosen

for a conservative treatment of hepatitis C because

these substances protect the liver from free radical

damage, increase the levels of other fundamental

antioxidants, and interfere with viral proliferation.

The 3 patients presented in this paper followed the

triple antioxidant program and recovered quickly and

their laboratory values remarkably improved.

Furthermore, liver transplantation was avoided and the

patients are back at work, carrying out their normal

activities, and feeling healthy. The author offers a

more conservative approach to the treatment of

hepatitis C, that is exceedingly less expensive. One

year of the triple antioxidant therapy described in

this paper costs less than $2,000, as compared to mor

than $300,000 a year for liver transplant surgery. It

appears reasonable, that prior to liver transplant

surgery evaluation, or during the transplant

evaluation process, the conservative triple

antioxidant treatment approach should be considered.

If these is a significant betterment in the patient's

condition, liver transplant surgery may be avoided.

Case Histories

Patient 1:

Mrs.M.P.is a 57 yr old woman who acquired hepatitis-c

after a blood

transfusion during surgery about 19 yrs ago. She did

not eat a

nutritious

diet and did not live a very healthy lifestyle at the

time. About 5 yrs

ago,she became very fatigued and nauseous, and was

diagnosed with

non-A,non-B hepatitis. She was treated with

conventional therapies and

continued to degenerate into a poorer state of health.

About 3 yrs ago

she

was diagnosed with chronic hep-c. Cirrhosis, portal

hypertention,

esophageal

varices, thrombocytopenia, and treated with steriods

and interferon.

She did

not improve. Her AFP level became elevated(16.1) and a

mass was located

in

her liver, Mrs M.P. was told that the mass was

probably cancer and that

there was no hope.

Mrs M.P. presented at our office last year appearing

fatigued, weak,

pale

and her abdomen was grossly enlarged. The abdominal

distention was due

to

ascities.She was administered oral flurosaminde(40 mg)

and

potassium cloride (10 meq) with a balanced diet and

wholesome

lifestyle.

She lost almost 50 lbs. of fluid in 1 month. Mrs.M.P.

was treated with

600 mg. of oral alpha-lipoic acid in 2 divided doses

(300mg each),

900 mg of silymarin in 3 divided doses (3000 mg each)

and 400 mg of

selenium a day. A premium B-complex vitamin was added

to her regimen

because

alpha-lipoic acid depletes the body of thiamin, biotin

and other B

vitamins.

Adequate amounts of vitamin C (2,000 mg), vitamin E

(800 IU), Coenzyme

Q10

(300 mg), and basic mineral supplements were also

prescribed. Figure 1

and 2

track favorable changes in her ALT levels. Today,

Mrs.M.P. is working 8

hours a day, feels healthy, looks

good, and is not tired. She is free of the signs and

symptoms of

chronic hepatitis-c infection.

Patient2:

Mrs.P.P. is a 49 yr old woman who was infected with

hep-c following a

blood

transfusion prior to trama surgery more than 10 yrs

ago.

During surgery, her spleen was excised because it was

lacerated.

About 3 yrs ago, liver biopsy was performed that

showed moderate

cirrhosis

with active inflammation. As a result of this

pathology, Mrs. P.P. went

on

to develop portal hypertention with esophageal

varices. She never

acquired

thrombocytopenia because of the spenectomy, and did

not show an

elevated

AFP. Mrs. P.P. was treated with interferon therapy

without any

satisfactory

results. She was told that her condition was hopeless

and that a liver

transplant was her only option. Her health continued

to decline and she

was

presented at our office with fatigue, anxiety, and

insomnia.

Mrs P. P. was prescribed 600mg. of alpha-lipoic acid

each day in 2

divided

doses(300 mg). To that, was added silymarin (900 mg

/day) and selenium

(400

ug/day). To combat the anxiety and insomnia , 0.5 of

aprazolam was

prescribed, as needed at bedtime. Mrs P. P. was put on

a balanced

healthy

diet and lifestyle program, amd within 7 months

regained her health.

Fifure

3 to 5 trace the favorable changes in her ALT levels,

viral load and

platelet levels. She is doing very well today and is

working at an

arduous

job and playing at sports without any fatigue or other

symptoms of

serious

disease.

Patient 3:

Mrs.L.M. is a 35 yr old mother of three children who

developed

hepatitis-c

secondary to a blood transfusion during the birth of

her

baby 15 yrs ago. Three yrs ago she became ill and was

diagnosed with

cirrhosis of the liver, portal hypertention, and

esophageal varices.

As a result of the portal hypertention, she developed

splenomegaly and

thrombcytopenia.

Mrs.L.M.'s hepatologist sent her to the university

hospital for liver

transplant evaluation. When she was presented here to

our office, she

was

anxious, fatigued, pale, and complained of constant

pain in the region

of

her liver and spleen.

Mrs.L.M. fasting blood sugars were in the 300mg/dc

range. She did not

have

hyperglycemia prior to the hep-c infection. Mrs, L.M.

decided that

prior to

the liver transplant surgery, she wanted to

investigate a more

conservative

regimen.

Mrs.L.M. was prescribed alph-lipoic acid (600 mg/day0,

silymarin (900

mg/day) and selenium (400 ug) per day with other

supportive

supplements. She

was encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle program

with a 2,000

calorie

diabetes diet. Within 2 weeks she began to feel much

better and

recovered

quickly.Her blood sugar fell into the normal range and

the pain in her

liver

and spleen ended. She became energized and was able to

do her normal

work as

a housewife. She returned to college the next semester

earning a 3.8

grade

point average.

The following paper was written by American physician

Dr Burton Berkson

but

the results of his work were not published in the

American medical

journals.

The study results were published in Germany's medical

journal

" medizinishe

klink. "

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

A Conservative Triple Antioxidant Approach to the

Treatment of Hepatitis C. Combination of Alpha Lipoic

Acid (Thioctic Acid), Silymarin, and Selenium: Three

Case Histories

Berkson BM

Med Klin 1999 Oct 15;94 Suppl 3:84-9

Background: There has been an increase in the number

of adults seeking liver transplantation for hepatitis

C in the last few years and the count is going up

rapidly. There is no reliable and effective therapy

for chronic hepatitis C since interferon and

antivirals work no more than 30% of the time, and

liver transplant surgery is uncertain and tentative

over the long run. This is because, ultimately,

residual hepatitis C viremia infects the new liver.

Furthermore, liver transplantation can be painful,

disabling and extremely costly.

Treatment Program: The author describes a low cost and

efficacious treatment program in 3 patients with

cirrhosis, portal hypertension and esophageal varices

secondary to chronic hepatitis C infection. This

effective and conservative regimen combines 3 potent

antioxidants (alpha-lipoic acid [thioctic acid],

silymarin, and selenium) that possess antiviral, free

radical quenching and immune boosting qualities.

Conclusion: There are no remarkably effective

treatments for chronic hepatitis C in general use.

Interferon and antivirals have less than a 30%

response rate and because of the residual viremia, a

newly transplanted liver usually becomes infected

again. The triple antioxidant combination of

alpha-lipoic acid, silymarin and selenium was chosen

for a conservative treatment of hepatitis C because

these substances protect the liver from free radical

damage, increase the levels of other fundamental

antioxidants, and interfere with viral proliferation.

The 3 patients presented in this paper followed the

triple antioxidant program and recovered quickly and

their laboratory values remarkably improved.

Furthermore, liver transplantation was avoided and the

patients are back at work, carrying out their normal

activities, and feeling healthy. The author offers a

more conservative approach to the treatment of

hepatitis C, that is exceedingly less expensive. One

year of the triple antioxidant therapy described in

this paper costs less than $2,000, as compared to mor

than $300,000 a year for liver transplant surgery. It

appears reasonable, that prior to liver transplant

surgery evaluation, or during the transplant

evaluation process, the conservative triple

antioxidant treatment approach should be considered.

If these is a significant betterment in the patient's

condition, liver transplant surgery may be avoided.

Case Histories

Patient 1:

Mrs.M.P.is a 57 yr old woman who acquired hepatitis-c

after a blood

transfusion during surgery about 19 yrs ago. She did

not eat a

nutritious

diet and did not live a very healthy lifestyle at the

time. About 5 yrs

ago,she became very fatigued and nauseous, and was

diagnosed with

non-A,non-B hepatitis. She was treated with

conventional therapies and

continued to degenerate into a poorer state of health.

About 3 yrs ago

she

was diagnosed with chronic hep-c. Cirrhosis, portal

hypertention,

esophageal

varices, thrombocytopenia, and treated with steriods

and interferon.

She did

not improve. Her AFP level became elevated(16.1) and a

mass was located

in

her liver, Mrs M.P. was told that the mass was

probably cancer and that

there was no hope.

Mrs M.P. presented at our office last year appearing

fatigued, weak,

pale

and her abdomen was grossly enlarged. The abdominal

distention was due

to

ascities.She was administered oral flurosaminde(40 mg)

and

potassium cloride (10 meq) with a balanced diet and

wholesome

lifestyle.

She lost almost 50 lbs. of fluid in 1 month. Mrs.M.P.

was treated with

600 mg. of oral alpha-lipoic acid in 2 divided doses

(300mg each),

900 mg of silymarin in 3 divided doses (3000 mg each)

and 400 mg of

selenium a day. A premium B-complex vitamin was added

to her regimen

because

alpha-lipoic acid depletes the body of thiamin, biotin

and other B

vitamins.

Adequate amounts of vitamin C (2,000 mg), vitamin E

(800 IU), Coenzyme

Q10

(300 mg), and basic mineral supplements were also

prescribed. Figure 1

and 2

track favorable changes in her ALT levels. Today,

Mrs.M.P. is working 8

hours a day, feels healthy, looks

good, and is not tired. She is free of the signs and

symptoms of

chronic hepatitis-c infection.

Patient2:

Mrs.P.P. is a 49 yr old woman who was infected with

hep-c following a

blood

transfusion prior to trama surgery more than 10 yrs

ago.

During surgery, her spleen was excised because it was

lacerated.

About 3 yrs ago, liver biopsy was performed that

showed moderate

cirrhosis

with active inflammation. As a result of this

pathology, Mrs. P.P. went

on

to develop portal hypertention with esophageal

varices. She never

acquired

thrombocytopenia because of the spenectomy, and did

not show an

elevated

AFP. Mrs. P.P. was treated with interferon therapy

without any

satisfactory

results. She was told that her condition was hopeless

and that a liver

transplant was her only option. Her health continued

to decline and she

was

presented at our office with fatigue, anxiety, and

insomnia.

Mrs P. P. was prescribed 600mg. of alpha-lipoic acid

each day in 2

divided

doses(300 mg). To that, was added silymarin (900 mg

/day) and selenium

(400

ug/day). To combat the anxiety and insomnia , 0.5 of

aprazolam was

prescribed, as needed at bedtime. Mrs P. P. was put on

a balanced

healthy

diet and lifestyle program, amd within 7 months

regained her health.

Fifure

3 to 5 trace the favorable changes in her ALT levels,

viral load and

platelet levels. She is doing very well today and is

working at an

arduous

job and playing at sports without any fatigue or other

symptoms of

serious

disease.

Patient 3:

Mrs.L.M. is a 35 yr old mother of three children who

developed

hepatitis-c

secondary to a blood transfusion during the birth of

her

baby 15 yrs ago. Three yrs ago she became ill and was

diagnosed with

cirrhosis of the liver, portal hypertention, and

esophageal varices.

As a result of the portal hypertention, she developed

splenomegaly and

thrombcytopenia.

Mrs.L.M.'s hepatologist sent her to the university

hospital for liver

transplant evaluation. When she was presented here to

our office, she

was

anxious, fatigued, pale, and complained of constant

pain in the region

of

her liver and spleen.

Mrs.L.M. fasting blood sugars were in the 300mg/dc

range. She did not

have

hyperglycemia prior to the hep-c infection. Mrs, L.M.

decided that

prior to

the liver transplant surgery, she wanted to

investigate a more

conservative

regimen.

Mrs.L.M. was prescribed alph-lipoic acid (600 mg/day0,

silymarin (900

mg/day) and selenium (400 ug) per day with other

supportive

supplements. She

was encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle program

with a 2,000

calorie

diabetes diet. Within 2 weeks she began to feel much

better and

recovered

quickly.Her blood sugar fell into the normal range and

the pain in her

liver

and spleen ended. She became energized and was able to

do her normal

work as

a housewife. She returned to college the next semester

earning a 3.8

grade

point average.

The following paper was written by American physician

Dr Burton Berkson

but

the results of his work were not published in the

American medical

journals.

The study results were published in Germany's medical

journal

" medizinishe

klink. "

__________________________________________________