Can MilkThistle really help with viral load #'s?

Can it really help with viral load numbers?

[Myown]

As far as VL, I don't know. But those of us that take MT, our liver enzymes are normal. I had stopped for a short time, just to see if they would go up and they did. As soon as I started taking MT again, they returned to normal.

[Dren23]

My ALT #'s has always been fine, which is kinda weird but I'm going to start MT.

[jmjm530]

MO: But those of us that take MT, our liver enzymes are normal.
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Do you mean that YOUR liver enzymes are normal. Certainly not everyone that takes Milk Thistle has normal liver enzymes.

Also, there is some confusion over what "normal" liver enzymes are. Just because you're in the "normal" range with the liver enzymes doesn't mean that those levels are normal for a healthy person. In general, unless you're liver enzymes are in the teens or very low 20's, they are probably elevated and would come down to those levels if you became SVR.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Just to clarify the above, since I was mixing up a couple of ideas. When I said "certainly not everyone that takes milk thistle has normal liver enzymes" I was talking about the normal range in the lab reports -- not the normal range as mentioned later.

[Myown]

Do you mean that YOUR liver enzymes are normal
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Same as we use the "reference range" for our red blood cells etc. My ast/alt have been in my 20's and low 30's for a while now - which falls into normal according to labs. As far as what my "normal" is supposed to be prior to ever having hepatitus (hepatitis) - dunno - who would, if we have supposedly carried this virus for x amount of years. Now after I svr if my enymes continue as they are then I guess that would be consider "normal for me," but until then we can only consider "normal" as to what lab slips call normal.  Okay dude, howz that sound Jimmmmmmmmie? Its the best I got babeee. my only answer, babee. Yeah that's it. I'm trying to be very very very very very wordy cause a certain person on forum says I talk to much and he is always right about everything under the sun so I need to not prove him wrong. Okay - gonna run for now. Places to go and people to see. Over and out. Be back later maybe.

[jmjm530]

I think the "normal/normal" thing I interjected is confusing the issue.

My main point is that MT does not necessarily normalize liver enzymes -- be it "normal range" on the lab charts or "normal/normal".

Maybe I read it wrong, but your first post seemed to infer that MT normalizes enzymes in everyone who takes it. That's not correct.

-- Jim

[copyman]

to answer your question, NO,  milk thistle can not lower your VL but it can help protect the liver to a certain extent.

[fightit]

My enzymes stayed in the 200-300 range with or without mt. I may not be typical though, they stayed like that with inf/riba tx also.

[Myown]

Maybe I read it wrong, but your first post seemed to infer that MT normalizes enzymes in everyone who takes it. That's not correct.

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No I don't mean it that way. Life would be so simple then,,,BUT I do mean that everyone that I can ever recall who said that they have been using MT that yes THEIR enzymes are normal as are mine. Now whether that would apply to everyone that uses MT, I can't answer that, but I do know that people on forum claim it has normalized their enzymes AND I have experierenced this myself. When I have gone off it my enzymes did go up. Went back on it, they came down and are in normal range (according to reference range on lab slip).

[jmjm530]

MO: No I don't mean it that way... ,BUT I do mean that everyone that I can ever recall who said that they have been using MT that yes THEIR enzymes are normal as are mine.
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Thanks for clarifying but the above statement does not correlate with my recollection on MT posts here for the past 1.5 years.

I've heard some people say it's lowered their enzymes and other -- like "fightit" above -- say it made no difference; and even some saying it's raised their enzymes.  As far as "normalizing" their enzymes, my recollection is that would be a minority statement of posters here.

[mremeet]

MT will have no effect on your viral load - MT is not an antiviral.

[Myown]

Yeah I remember reading posts where people such as myself have had enzymes normal on MT. I think Foreseegood has mentioned that recently too. She can correct me if I am wrong.

"fightit' said interferon or riba didn't lower them either.

[jmjm530]

Yes, I remember you saying that your liver enzymes became normal on MT. That I will not dispute.

[cba51]

MT cannot kill the virus. Unfortunately it takes some heavyduty  toxic meds to do that. You should not take it while on tx as it may affwect the efficacy of the meds to do their job.

Big Al

[scratchinghead]

If I take Milk Thistle the train honks it's horn really loud when coming down the tunnel

[Proactive]

ROFL!!!!!!! you made my day...................;^) Pro
PS: that may even bring a smile to Myown's face...

[sunspot]

I got what you meant when you said normal/normal. Pre-tx, I was in the mid 50’s. A little in the high range. Post-tx, I was in the high 20’s, normal range per the chart. Now after 1 ½ years, I am at 17 on ALT/AST. A truly normal number. phlebotomy hep c treatment

[scratchinghead]

I was serious . . . . .