VITAMIN A MAY BOOST STANDARD TREATMENT

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Researchers did a small study on 42 patients to see if adding vitamin A to

standard

treatment (pegylated interferon plus ribavirin)would improve the response rates.

Caution: The treatment did not include aplacebo, and the doses of vitamin A were

quite high, so one would probably not wantto add high doses without the results

of this

trial being confirmed.

The recommended daily dose of vitamin A in the US is 2310 to

3000 IU daily and the vitamin can be toxic.

The study was presented as an abstract, but has not yet been published in a

journal

where it has been reviewed by other experts, so the results should be taken as

preliminary.

The results of the trial were impressive.

After 48 weeks of treatment, 61% of those who added 30,000 IU daily of vitamin A

to

standard treatment achieved an SVR (sustained viral response) compared to

42.9% of those taking standard treatment alone. Even at 12 weeks into treatment,

70%

taking the vitamin A were virus free, compared to about 40% of those on standard

treatment alone.

There were no side effects from the high dose vitamin A.

Researchers had noted in earlier studies that retinoic acid had a positive

effect on

liver cancer cells in vitro and increased the effect of IFN and RBV.

A placebo-controlled trial is planned.

,

Source:

Sato S, et al.

,

" Retinol supplements antiviral action of pegylated interferon and ribavirin

combination therapy in patients with chronic

hepatitis C: Prospective pilot study " DDW 2010;

Abstract T2004.

,

http://Hepatitis Cnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2010/06/vitamin-may-boost-standard.html