ALA

[Guest guest]

Psychologically?You mean feeling depressed? If that was so,I think it

happened to me but not to a great extent to be scared. Nil

ALA

| On metals chelation list I asked Culter about ALA dosage timing and

| he told me that people who don't take it 'round the clock for a few days

get

| worse especially psychologically. He insisted not to just take it during

the

| day, daily like other supplements. This scares me even from taking it as

he

| recommends. I am also wondering if anybody else on that list feels like

| there is free discussion there or does he run the show?

[Guest guest]

,

What metals chelation list are you talking about? There is a list called

" metals " , which he certainly does not " run the show " , although there are

several cutler supporters there, but it is definitely a free-flow list where

lots of ideas/theories, etc. are discussed. There is a list called

Adult-Chelation, or something like that, and perhaps the word metals in is

that title, and the autism treatment list, both of which are pretty much run

by Cutler. It could be that the list you are referring to is the list he

created and runs, but there are other lists not " run " by Andy anymore, due

to some personal conflicts with list-owners or members. The " metals " list to

which I am referring, is pretty good, and covers many more alternatives and

thoughts on chelation.

Donna in NC

ALA

> On metals chelation list I asked Culter about ALA dosage timing and

he told me that people who don't take it 'round the clock for a few days get

worse especially psychologically. He insisted not to just take it during the

day, daily like other supplements. This scares me even from taking it as he

recommends. I am also wondering if anybody else on that list feels like

there is free discussion there or does he run the show?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Donna. I figured it out. Do you have experience with ALA?

Re: ALA

,

What metals chelation list are you talking about? There is a list called

" metals " , which he certainly does not " run the show " , although there are

several cutler supporters there, but it is definitely a free-flow list

where

lots of ideas/theories, etc. are discussed. There is a list called

Adult-Chelation, or something like that, and perhaps the word metals in is

that title, and the autism treatment list, both of which are pretty much run

by Cutler. It could be that the list you are referring to is the list he

created and runs, but there are other lists not " run " by Andy anymore, due

to some personal conflicts with list-owners or members. The " metals " list

to

which I am referring, is pretty good, and covers many more alternatives

and

thoughts on chelation.

Donna in NC

ALA

> On metals chelation list I asked Culter about ALA dosage timing

and

he told me that people who don't take it 'round the clock for a few days

get

worse especially psychologically. He insisted not to just take it during

the

day, daily like other supplements. This scares me even from taking it as

he

recommends. I am also wondering if anybody else on that list feels like

there is free discussion there or does he run the show?

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I can't tell you off hand. You can look it up in Berk Berkson's book.

BTW, why doesn't Cheney use ALA?

Cheney identifies glutathione deficiency as a key cause and ALA is one of

the best ways to start glutathione production in the cell. ALA is more

easily tolerated than whey products and the doses are easier to adjust. I

started at 10 mg. I can't tolerate even 1/8 a dose of whey for very long,

which is what some of Cheney' s patients take.

HI ,

Do you know how the lipoic acid gets the glucose into the cells ?

[bMFB]

----- Original Message -----

>

> >

> > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences

with

> each

> > other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any

> treatment

> > discussed here, please consult your doctor.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

ALA might be more tolerated by some people than whey protein, but it made me

much sicker. If you have mercury ALA is likely to make you much worse.

Thanks,

Doris

----- Original Message -----

From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> BTW, why doesn't Cheney use ALA?

> Cheney identifies glutathione deficiency as a key cause and ALA is one of

> the best ways to start glutathione production in the cell. ALA is more

> easily tolerated than whey products and the doses are easier to adjust. I

> started at 10 mg.

[Guest guest]

I would be curious about how much you were taking and how you started out,

and whether you followed Cutler's protocol which people claim you must do

exactly or get worse. When I first started I only felt good on 10 mg. I

quickly built tolerance to 100mg. I am very mecury toxic but have had

amalgams out for a few years. The devil is in the details. :-)

Re: ALA

ALA might be more tolerated by some people than whey protein, but it made

me

much sicker. If you have mercury ALA is likely to make you much worse.

Thanks,

Doris

----- Original Message -----

From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> BTW, why doesn't Cheney use ALA?

> Cheney identifies glutathione deficiency as a key cause and ALA is one

of

> the best ways to start glutathione production in the cell. ALA is more

> easily tolerated than whey products and the doses are easier to adjust.

I

> started at 10 mg.

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

Cheney does use lipoic acid, but in small amounts for the very reason Doris

stated. It moves mercury around, and he is finding mercury is a problem for

many of his patients. My EI doc also now tests routinely for mercury, as he

is seeing it more and more frequently in patients. He doesn't use ALA

anymore. I don't tolerate either.

Donna in NC

Re: ALA

> ALA might be more tolerated by some people than whey protein, but it made

me much sicker. If you have mercury ALA is likely to make you much worse.

> Thanks,

> Doris

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> > BTW, why doesn't Cheney use ALA?

> > Cheney identifies glutathione deficiency as a key cause and ALA is one

of the best ways to start glutathione production in the cell. ALA is more

easily tolerated than whey products and the doses are easier to adjust. I

started at 10 mg.

[Guest guest]

I wasn't following Cutler's protocol, since people like you said generic

things like " ALA is one of the best ways to start glutathione production in

the cell. " without mentioning that it can make you very sick if you have

mercury.

As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on Cutler. I hear a lot

from him about how only he knows the right way to do things, but I have yet

to see how he " knows " this. I am reading his book now and nowhere yet do I

see where he explains how he came up with this information. But I am still

looking.

Thanks,

Doris

----- Original Message -----

From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> I would be curious about how much you were taking and how you started out,

> and whether you followed Cutler's protocol which people claim you must do

> exactly or get worse. When I first started I only felt good on 10 mg. I

> quickly built tolerance to 100mg. I am very mecury toxic but have had

> amalgams out for a few years. The devil is in the details. :-)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Doris, I don't know what you mean by " people like me " but I don't mention

that it makes you sick if you have mercury because I don't believe that. I

am taking because I have mercury and think i will be me better. Too much of

anything can feel bad which is why I asked about amounts.

I don't know what to accept from Culter either. I know he has a lot of

experience, but he does not take the time to explain how he arrives at his

conclusions and then is a bit shrill, so I think he exaggerates. I did not

follow the round the clock model and did not get worse or psychotic, to my

knowledge :-). But I am going with the program now because before I didn't

and just want to compare.

Cheers,

I wasn't following Cutler's protocol, since people like you said generic

things like " ALA is one of the best ways to start glutathione production

in

the cell. " without mentioning that it can make you very sick if you have

mercury.

As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on Cutler. I hear a lot

from him about how only he knows the right way to do things, but I have

yet

to see how he " knows " this. I am reading his book now and nowhere yet do

I

see where he explains how he came up with this information. But I am

still

looking.

Thanks,

Doris

----- Original Message -----

From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> I would be curious about how much you were taking and how you started

out,

> and whether you followed Cutler's protocol which people claim you must

do

> exactly or get worse. When I first started I only felt good on 10 mg. I

> quickly built tolerance to 100mg. I am very mecury toxic but have had

> amalgams out for a few years. The devil is in the details. :-)

>

>

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

If ALA moves mercury around that would be a good argument for using it

with DMSA as Culter recommends because it binds tighter, while ALA

penetrated deeper and has many other health benefits.

Cheney does use lipoic acid, but in small amounts for the very reason

Doris

stated. It moves mercury around, and he is finding mercury is a problem

for

many of his patients. My EI doc also now tests routinely for mercury, as

he

is seeing it more and more frequently in patients. He doesn't use ALA

anymore. I don't tolerate either.

Donna in NC

Re: ALA

> ALA might be more tolerated by some people than whey protein, but it

made

me much sicker. If you have mercury ALA is likely to make you much worse.

> Thanks,

> Doris

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> > BTW, why doesn't Cheney use ALA?

> > Cheney identifies glutathione deficiency as a key cause and ALA is one

of the best ways to start glutathione production in the cell. ALA is more

easily tolerated than whey products and the doses are easier to adjust. I

started at 10 mg.

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

Doris,

Sorry if you have mentioned this before and I have missed it. Could you

please describe me how it made you worse?I also am getting worse and I don't

know if the cause is mercury in my system or ALA? I feel frustrated about

this. How shell we get mercury out of our system than?Shall we just leave it

as it is? What about Chlorella?Have you used only Chlorella when you had

mercury in your system? Did it help or did it also made you worse?Thanks..

Take care.. Nil

Re: ALA

| ALA might be more tolerated by some people than whey protein, but it made

me

| much sicker. If you have mercury ALA is likely to make you much worse.

| Thanks,

| Doris

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Thanks for your comments about ALA and Cutler.

This is the first time I have heard about this form of treatment. I will do

some searching on the net to see what else I can learn about ALA as well as

Cutler.

Thanks

A

Re: ALA

>

>

> > ALA might be more tolerated by some people than whey protein, but it

> made

> me much sicker. If you have mercury ALA is likely to make you much

worse.

> > Thanks,

> > Doris

>

> > ----- Original Message -----

> > From: " BMFB " <bmfb@...>

> > > BTW, why doesn't Cheney use ALA?

> > > Cheney identifies glutathione deficiency as a key cause and ALA is

one

> of the best ways to start glutathione production in the cell. ALA is

more

> easily tolerated than whey products and the doses are easier to adjust.

I

> started at 10 mg.

>

>

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with

each

> other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

> discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Anybody recommend a good ALA to use. Want to add in with NCD, and because we’ll be doing 3/4 hourly, would probably be best in powdered form. Mandi you don’t seem to sell, thought you did? Nutricentre don’t seem to have any from Kirkmans either.

>>Kirkman is what I use 25mg - its flavoured one. It should be on Nutri Centre site under L for Lipoic Acid, if not the Breakspear should have it or Bernd at Cenarverde in Netherlands who will get it to you quicker than the NC for sure

Caps are very tiny, Sam actaully LIKES the taste

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

>>No because we need the flavour in Kirkmans to get it down so never tried anything else

Mandi x

In a message dated 04/05/2010 19:43:48 GMT Daylight Time, kirsty.allen@... writes:

Just wondering if anyone has tried the Metabolics ALA rather than Kirkmans?

[Guest guest]

>>I would think so, they don;t use fillers

Mandi x

In a message dated 04/05/2010 20:54:55 GMT Daylight Time, kirsty.allen@... writes:

Sammy swallows capsules, so just wondering whether it would be purer?

[Guest guest]

Sammy swallows capsules, so just wondering whether it would be purer? I love

Metabolics and didn't realise they sold ALA too

>

> >>No because we need the flavour in Kirkmans to get it down so never tried

> anything else

>

> Mandi x

>

>

> In a message dated 04/05/2010 19:43:48 GMT Daylight Time,

> kirsty.allen@... writes:

>

> Just wondering if anyone has tried the Metabolics ALA rather than Kirkmans?

>

[Guest guest]

Sammy swallows capsules, so just wondering whether it would be purer? I love

Metabolics and didn't realise they sold ALA too

>

> >>No because we need the flavour in Kirkmans to get it down so never tried

> anything else

>

> Mandi x

>

>

> In a message dated 04/05/2010 19:43:48 GMT Daylight Time,

> kirsty.allen@... writes:

>

> Just wondering if anyone has tried the Metabolics ALA rather than Kirkmans?

>

[Guest guest]

I was sent this info on ALA a while back from someone on the LDN site. A

Dr. Berkson in N.M. uses it for HepC patients (I am HIV/HCV coinfected. It

does give good info. I have highlighted important points. I do not know

about its effectiveness for HIV, however.

*The Berkson Clinical Study*

The following paper was written by an 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

" Medizinische Klinik " . The front cover of the German Journal is attached.

The article has been transcribed in English but is provided basically

unchanged for your review.

*Dr. Berkson’s Biography:*

*Undergraduate and Graduate Education:*

BS: Roosevelt University , Chicago (Biology/chemistry)

MD: Autonomous University System , Mexico

MS, Ph.D. University of Illinois , Urbana (Biological Sciences)

*Medical Post Graduate Training:*

Internal Medicine Resident (St. Lukes Hopsital, Western Reserve Univ. 77-78)

Pathology resident ( Mt. Sinai Hospital , Western Reserve Univ. 78-79

Mini-Residency Obstetrics (University of New Mexico Hospital 1980)

Certification Hypnotherapy ASCH

ACLS Certification

*Academic Positions and Responsibilities:*

Assist. Professor (Biology, Mycology) Rutgers University 68-72

Assoc, Professor (Biology, Microbiology) Chicago State University 72-74

Visiting Professor Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg 78

Adjunct Professor (applies Biology, EPPWS) New Mexico State Univ., Present

Consultant Mushroom Poisoning ( ALA ) Center for Disease Control, Atlanta

Toxicology Consultant, New Mexico Poison Control Center

Principal Investigator, FDA, IV Thiocatic Acid (Alpha-Lipoic Acid)

Member, New Mexico Medical/Legal Panel

Member, El Paso Fund Alternative Medicine Committee

Numerous Other Visiting Professorships and Research Associate Positions

*Medical Practices*

Integrative Medical Center of New Mexico 1996 – Present

Attending Physician, White Sands Missile Range , New Mexico 1989-1997

Emergency room Physician, New Mexico 1979-1988

Private rural family practice, Hobbs & Lovington, New Mexico 1980-1986

*Author: " Alpha Lipoic Acid Breakthroughs " *

[As published in " Medizinishche Klinik " , a German medical journal.]

According to a recent article, the number of adults seeking liver

transplants for hepatitis C infection will skyrocket in the next 20 years

[11]. About 10,000 Americans die from this disease each year. Deaths are

estimated to increase because of the increasing risk of infection, and the

resulting cirrhosis, portal hypertension, thrombocytopenia, bleeding from

varices, and liver cancer. Five years ago, 20% of these hepatitis C patients

were candidates for liver transplantation and today the number has increased

to about 50%.

An estimated 4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C and many of

them are being evaluated for liver transplant surgery. This expensive

process costs roughly $300,000 during the first 3 months, and can be painful

and incapacitating. Add to this the thousands of dollars for anti-rejection

drugs and the costs of more frequent visits to health care facilities. Of

course some people do require liver transplant surgery, however, the author

believes that in many cases, an effective alternative therapy exists.

Often, patients with progressive hepatitis C, who seeks a more conservative

treatment, prior to surgery present to our facility. These patients are

treated with a program that includes and combines alpha-lipoic acid,

silymarin and selenium. Most patients recover quickly, however, a few find

it difficult to follow a healthy nutritional and lifestyle program, or their

condition is so far advanced that they go on to liver transplant surgery. In

this paper, the case histories of 3 patients are presented.

*ABSTRACT*

*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 varies 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 antiviral 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 tripleantioxidant 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 health. 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 more than $300,000 a year of

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 there is a significant betterment in the patient’s condition, liver

transplant surgery may be avoided.

Key Words: Hepatitis C – treatment – antioxidant – alpha lipoic acid –

thioctic acid – silymarin – selenium

*Background:* More than 20 years ago, when the author was in medical and

pathology training at 2 hospitals in Cleveland , Ohio , he was assigned to 6

critical patients who were suffering from acute hepatic necrosis secondary

to hepatotoxic mushroom poisoning. He ordered thiocgic acid (alpha-lipoic

acid, ALA ) from the National Institutes of Health and injected this

antioxidant drug into the patients. In spite of their highly threatening

condition the patients, as measured by laboratory values and clinical

parameters, recovered quickly. Dr. Fred Bartter (then Chief of Hypertension

and Endocrinology at the NIH) and the author were astounded by their

recoveries and went on to treat many more mushroom poisoning patients. Over

the years, the author continued to treat additional patients with other

medial conditions using ALA , and observed similar results. The author has

recently added silymarin and selenium to the regimen. In this paper he will

discuss the use to this triple antioxidant regimen in the management of 3

chronic hepatitis c patients.

*Patients and Method:* *The 3 basic antioxidants there were used in this

report are alpha-lipoic acid (thioctic acid), silymarin and selenium

(selenomethionine). *The alpha-lipoic acid product was manufactured by Asta

Medica at furt Am Main , Germany . The silymarin was a product

distributed by NOW Foods of Bloomingdale , Illinois , and the selenium was

encapsulated by Metabolic Maintenance Products Inc., of Sisters, Oregon .

The 3 patients were selected at random from a group of approximately 50

chronic hepatitis C charts at the Integrative Medical Center of New Mexico

in Las Cruces . Each patient was maintained on a dose of 600 mg. Of

alpha-lipoic acid a day in 2 divided portions of 300 mg. each. The silymarin

dose was 900 mg. Per day in 3 divided portions of 300 mg. The

selenomethiomine dose was 400 mcg in 2 divided portions of 200 mcg.

*Because alpha-lipoic acid depletes some of the B vitamins, the patients

were prescribed 2 B-100 capsules a day.* *In addition, each patient also

took between 1,000 and 6,000 mg. Of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and a

mineral supplement. The patients were also requested to eat a daily diet

that included at least 6 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, only 4 oz

or less of meat per meal, and 8 glasses of fresh water.*

I*t was also suggested that the patients reduce their stress levels, and

take part in an exercise program that included at least a 1-mile walk 3

times a week. The patients followed the nutritional supplement program

carefully, however, it is not clearly known whether the other regimens were

correctly followed.*

*CASE STUDIES:*

*PATIENT 1:*

Mrs. M.P. is a 57-year-old woman who acquired hepatitis C after a blood

transfusion during surgery about 10 years ago. She did not eat a nutritious

diet and did not live a very healthy lifestyle at that time. About 5 years

ago, she became very fatigues 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 years ago she was

diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. cirrhosis, portal hypertension.

esophageal varcies, and thrombocytopenis, and treated with steroids and

interferon. She did not improve. Her AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) level become

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

ascites. She was administered oral furosaminde (40 mg) and potassium

chloride (10 meq) with a balanced die and wholesome lifestyle. She lost

almost 50 lb of fluid in 1 month. Mrs. M.P. was treated with 600 mg. Of oral

apha-lipoic acid in 2 divided doses (300 mg each), 900 mg of silymarin in 3

divided doses (300 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. Figures 1 and 2 track the

favorable changes in her ALT levels and her AFP 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 serious chronic hepatitis C infection.

*PATIENT 2*

Mrs. P.P. is a 49-year-old woman who was infected with hepatitis C following

a blood transfusion prior to trauma surgery more than 10 years ago. During

surgery, her spleen was excised because it was lacerated.

About 3 years ago, a 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 hypertension with esophageal varices. She never

acquired thrombocytopenia because of the spenectomy, and did not show an

elevated AFG. 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 presented at our office with fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia.

Mrs. P.P. was prescribed 600 mg. Of alpha-lipoic acid each day in 2 divided

doses (300 mg each). 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 health and

lifestyle program, and within 7 months regained her health. Figure 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-year-old mother of 3 children who developed hepatitis C

secondary to a blood transfusion during the birth of her baby girl 15 years

ago. Three years ago she became ill and was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the

liver, portal hypertension, and esophageal varcies. As a result of th4

portal hypertension, she developed splenomegaly and thrombcytopenia. Mrs.

L.M.’s hepatologist sent here to the university hospital for liver

transplant evaluation. When she presented to our office, she was anxious,

tired, and pale, and complained of constant pain in the regions of her liver

and spleen. Mrs. l.’s fasting blood sugars were in the 300-mg/dc range. She

did not have hyperglycemia prior to the hepatitis C infection. Mrs. L.M.

decided that prior to the liver transplant surgery, she wanted to

investigate a more conservative treatment regimen.

Mrs. L.M. was prescribed alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg./day), silymarin (900

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

She was encouraged to follow a health 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 (A). Figures 6 and 7 trace her favorable progress.

*DISCUSSION*

*ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID*

*Alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) is a small organic molecule with a disultide

bond. It is a superb antioxidant that is soluble in both water and

fat. ALAis an important coenzyme for the production of acetyl coenzyme

A.

Dihydorlipoic acid (DHLA), it’s reduced form, is an electron donor that

recycles other fundamental antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, and

glutathione). ALA and DHJLA are superb free radical scavenger themselves

because they neutralize peroxyle radicals [36], hydroxyl radicals [39] and

singlet oxygen [38].*

*ALA is also a metal chelator that removes mercury from tissues [17],

prevents calcium oxalate crystals (stones) from forming in the kidneys [21,

chelates copper [28], and removes arsenic [18].*

*Lately, there has been a great explosion in ALA research. The lipoic

acid/dihydrolipoic acid redox couple inhibits viral replication by

stabilizing the NFK beta transcription factor [4], blocks the development of

cataracts [24], protects the kidneys form aminoglycoside damage [35],

insulates the pancreatic islet cells form inflammatory assault [7], inhibits

thymocyte apoptosis [8], and stimulates the production of helper T cells

[15]. In addition, the toxic side effects of cancer chemotherapy can be

attenuated with the use of ALA [5] and it protects bone marrow from free

radical damage secondary to ionizing radiation. [33].*

*Numerous other studies show that ALA is useful for the treatment of

diabetes mellitus and syndrome X because it increased cellular glucose

utilization [19]. And significantly reduces insulin resistance [12,20].*

*Diabetic neuropathy originates from a decrease in blood flow to various

organs. This results in an accumulation of free radicals that can destroy

nerve function. In one study, ALA brought about a significant reduction of

neuropathic symptoms in 23 patients *[46]. This was accomplished by

abolishing the products of lipid peroxidation and increasing the entrance of

glucose into the cell [27].

Due to ALA ’s lipophilic characteristics, it can cross the blood-brain

barrier quite easily and can scavenge free radical toxins in the central

nervous system. Both ALA and DHLA protect animals from neuronal death

following laboratory-induced cerebral ischemia and reperfusion experiments

[9,16,32]. This effect is explained by the fact the ALA greatly increased

glutathione levels in nervous tissue, thus protecting the nerves from the

toxic products of oxidation.

For many years, ALA was used as a treatment for liver disease. As of yet,

however, there are not many papers on this subject, and some studies used

entirely sub-therapeutic dose [25].

Ethyl alcohol (ETOH) damages the liver by several mechanisms that ultimately

lead to the proliferation of innumerable free radicals. These toxins damage

the cell membranes by lipid peroxidation. It has been reported the

ALAlowers the levels of ETOH metabolic breakdown products, and in

consideration

of this ALA may be an effective treatment for alcohol induced hepatitis,

early cirrhosis, and alcoholic coma [23, 37].

In the late 1960’s and 1970’s, there were several studies describing the

successful treatment of hepatotoxic mushroom poisoning with

intravenous ALA[22, 47]. National Institutes of Health studies

reported the survival of 73

out of 79 seriously poisoned patients [3, 6]. In American, interest in the

use of ALA for hepatotoxic mushroom poisoning, and liver disease in general,

was in the main lost, because of the growing fascination with liver

transplantation as a proposed " standard of care " treatment for serious liver

disease.

*SILYMARIN*

Silymarin is the mixed extract of the milk thistle plant (sylibum marianum)

and has been used for hundreds of years as a treatment for liver disease. In

the late 1960’s and 1970’s it was extensively used for serious hepatotoxic

mushroom poisoning with excellent results [43]. It has been demonstrated to

be a proficient antioxidant, protecting the liver by neutralizing dangerous

hydroxyl radicals, superoxide ions and hypochloric acid. In this way

silymarin neutralized the toxins that destroy the cellular membrane systems

and the hepatocyte’s genetic material [10, 26, 41]. Silymarin, like ALA ,

increases cellular glutathione levels and decreases tumor promoter activity

{1, 30].

Human viral hepatitis studies with silymarin demonstrate quicker

normalization of liver enzymes, expeditious reduction of bilirubin levels,

and shorter hospital stays [31]. In addition, silymarin has been shown to be

an effective antidote for toluene and xylene toxicity, and drug overdoes

[14, 29, 40]. Alcoholic and other chronic liver disease patients lowered

their liver enzymes, decreased their levels of procollagen III, and improved

the histology of their livers with daily oral administration of silymarin

[2,13, 34]. Taking this intelligent reasoning into account, silymarin offers

another effective treatment choice for serious liver disease.

*SELENIUM*

Selenium (Se) is an essential metal that is required for normal antioxidant

metabolism, reproduction and thyroid function. It is also an important

coenzyme for the glutathione peroxidase detoxification system. Because of

this, selenium neutralized peroxides that proliferate under oxidate stress

and consequently protects cell membranes from free radical damage.

Selenium often combines with amino acids and forms selenoproteins. Viruses

might benefit from being directly involved in this selenoprotein encoding

process by monitoring selenium levels in the cell. Consequently, this viral

behavior could act as a barometer for increasing or decreasing viral

reproduction. If cellular selenoprotein levels fall, the virus might become

more active and produce more viruses that attack new cells. If selenoprotein

levels rise, the virus may remain in a dormant state for longer periods of

time or remain permanently dormant.

Research papers have reported that RNA viruses, including hepatitis C virus,

encode selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase genes. In view of this

concept, it is entirely possible that a specific viral gene could generate a

selenium shortage in the host. And in this way, a selenium deficiency could

stimulate viral proliferation and thus promote the progression of hepatitis

C. To continue, in that case, the addition of selenium might act as a " birth

control pill " for the virus, and thus show down it’s reproduction

mechanisms. According to several investigators this could give the immune

system a chance to control the hepatitis C or HIV disease process [42,45].

*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 liver transplantation is uncertain and tentative. This is partially due

to the residual viremia; the newly transplanted liver ultimately becomes

infected again [44].

The triple antioxidant combination of alpha-lipoid acid, silymarin and

selenium were 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 virus

proliferation. The 3 patients presented in this paper followed the triple

antioxidant program and recovered quickly form this potentially devastating

viral infection. Furthermore, liver transplantation can be painful,

disabling, and extremely costly.

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 more

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, this conservative triple antioxidant treatment approach

should be considered. If there is a significant betterment in the patient’s

condition, liver transplant surgery may be avoided.

References available upon request - contact Hepatitis United.

Rod