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Do's and Don'ts of using supplements when you have Hepatitis C.Help our Disabled American Veterans Our veteran heroes need your support! Over 37,000 men and women have been injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many face serious injuries, endure extensive recoveries and are not receiving the treatment and care they have earned and deserve. I earn a small amount of money each time you click on these Google ads and/or use the Google search feature on this website. I will donate half of everything I earn from these Google ads and Google search to the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.
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Usually, vitamin supplements are something that is good for every person and every diet. However, like everything that we ingest, these must pass through ourliver and for people with Hepatitis C there are some that cause more harm than good. Vitamins are not known to assist with control or treatment of HCV. However when there are severe nutritional deficiencies (such as those seen in alcoholic populations) which cause additional problems with HCV and liver disease, vitamins can help bring these nutritional deficiencies back into normal range. If HCV has injured the liver enough to affect its metabolic abilities, such as that seen in early cirrhosis, then some vitamins should be used very carefully. Therefore, it is very important to understand which vitamin supplements are safe to take when you have Hepatitis C. Naturally the best way for any person to get their vitamins and nutrients is always going to be through food. However, if you lose your appetite or for whatever reason and cannot eat a healthy diet, it is important to get them through vitamin supplements. BUT…for those of us with Hepatitis C we must make sure that we are not doing more damage to our liver by taking certain supplements or excessive amounts of supplements. Do...
...avoid high doses of vitamins so that your liver does not have to deal with processing them. Only take the daily recommended dosage. Megavitamins can hurt your liver even more. ...talk to your healthcare professional before you take any vitamins. They'll tell you exactly what is best for your body, and are familiar with your situation.
Don't... ...take fat-soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, D, and E) in high amounts. These fat soluble vitamins can accumulate in the liver, and if taken in "megadose" quantities may even damage a normal liver. ...exceed the normal or suggested dose for vitamins. Check carefully with all of your supplements and avoid taking more than necessary. Information on vitamins & supplements for people with Hepatitis C Iron
We humans have no means to excrete excess iron. If left untreated excess iron will accumulate in tissues and organs disrupting their normal function. The most susceptible organs include the liver, adrenal glands, the heart and the pancreas. Patients can present with cirrhosis, adrenal insufficiency, heart failure or diabetes.
The excessive absorption of dietary iron, resulting in an extreme increase in total body iron stores, is actually a disease known as hemochromatosis (he-mo-chro-ma-toe-sis). It is most common among those of Northern European ancestry, in particular those of British or Irish descent. Therefore some of us with Hepatitis C, particularly those of us with cirrhosis, will have above-average levels of iron in their body. If we choose to take a multivitamin or a mineral pill we should take one without iron. These are usually marketed as formulas for men or adults over 50. Screening for iron overload, or deficiency for that matter, isn’t a routine practice in most doctors’ offices. Talk to your healthcare professional if you have concerns about storing excess iron.
Fortunately the treatment for iron overload is simple: blood-letting, or phlebotomy, to help rid the body of excess iron and thereby stop any tissue damage in progress. Blood-letting is an effective form of treatment because our blood contains a large portion of the body’s stores.
A pint of blood is drawn each week until iron storage levels are reduced to normal and three or four times throughout the year thereafter.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is perhaps the most toxic of the A, D and E group. Over dosages of vitamin A can cause sudden and severe liver failure. It can be even more toxic to someone who drinksalcohol.
If you feel you must take a vitamin A supplement, look for those containing beta-carotene.
Regardless of the reason for taking a supplement, no more than standard recommended daily allowances (RDA's) are suggested for those with liver disease, regardless of the cause.
Vitamin C
We should avoid taking large doses of vitamin C because it helps the body absorb iron.
Vitamin D
When taken in normal amounts (such as in diets with plenty of milk), vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining good health. Your body will also make vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight.
Supplements of 800 IU of vitamin D daily might help if you have a poor diet, or if you are dealing with a seasonal affect disorder. If you have Hepatitis C, you should not take more than 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is anantioxidant that helps prevent oxygen from reacting with other chemicals in cells causing oxidation. The oxidation process can have negative effects on the body.
While researchers continue to look for ways that vitamin E can reduce risk of many diseases because of its antioxidant abilities, the current medical opinion is that the amount of vitamin E in a well-balanced diet is the safest amount for a person with hepatitis C. If you are going to take vitamin E, avoid does greater than 400 IU. At high doses, vitamin E can thin the blood which can be a problem for some people.
Never take high-doses of vitamin E without first talking to your healthcare professional.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is essential to your blood clotting. While vitamin K is present green vegetables, it is also produced by bacteria in the intestines.
Vitamin K supplements generally are not taken, nor are they recommended. If you have any additional questions or concerns about having Hepatitis C and taking vitamins, talk to your healthcare professional.
Together you can come up with a treatment plan that works for your particular circumstances. Do you have a personal experience to share relating to Supplements?You can help improve the content of this site by sharing your personal experiences. Doing so will help hundreds, if not thousands, of people living with Hepatitis C. Nature's Sunshine Products
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