Curcumin

[Hepatitis Researcher]

Curcumin is an available substance that has serious potential to prevent or treat liver fibrosis. Oral administration in humans suffer from the limited bioavailibility of regular curcumin preparations. Combinations with biopterin have been shown to enhance curcumin absorption, but only to a limited degree. New curcumin formulations have appeared on the supplement market that claim a very substantially enhanced absorption/bioavailibility. I have not yet found proof of these claims in the peer reviiewed literature, which however does not necessarily mean that this claims have no merit.
Curcumin is a substance that is worth discussing with your treating hepatologist. Not during tx, since it has a clear antiinflammatory effectiveness/mechanism that is likely to counteract some of the immunestimulating effects of IFN. Below are two examples of recent abstracts re its antifibrotic potential.

[Mary4now]

Gawd, alot of information,  I used to take vitamins that were called Isotonix, they were reputed to be  more absorbable because they were in an isotonic form?  I felt good on them, I'm just wondering if there is any validity to this.  They have a grape seed extract that was wonderful, helped my thumb from years of massaging, I'm wondering if its worth it to go back to it. Any ideas, completely bogus or some value.  I'm going to make my breakfast right now w/ brown rice, peas, turmeric and scrambled egg.  

[sfbaygirl]

Hey girl!  Don't worry about it, it sure won't help you get to SVR, huh?  You did all you could, you did lose the weight and did the tx.  Stress will only make you feel and be worse.  I always hate giving bad news to newbies. I remember when you first came to the forum. YOu were so scared and didn't know anything!  I told you things I NEVER wanted to! LOL Now you are a veteran and know all the terms and sx and you will know soon enough if you SVR'ed or not.  We know the risk, no use to worry now.  

Hugs and wishing you a very happy New year!
Linda

[dperry10]

Yes the weight gain came after treatment 15 years ago. I had lost alot during treatment the first time, and they put me on a high calorie / protein diet and I blew up.  Stuggled with it for years, like a yo yo.  Then developed diabetes about 4 years after EOT the first time.  But it was low sugar then.. had 3 grand mal siezures.  But got that under control with meds, and then during treatment ,my sugar levels returned to normal and still are.  and perfect BP.  I am going to call my PCP on weds and see if they will req the labs and lets get one now.  Now you have me worried that I could relapse , and being more of chance that I will. because of the excess weight loss.  Well thank you for your input, and I will contact my PCP on Weds and go from there.  I have an appt on Jan 16 with the Sr GI at the same center where I was going, but I may cancel it, unless this PCR that PCP orders comes back with anything other than UND.

Happy New Year all !!!     I am going in the other room to spend the last 20 mins of this year with my sweetie, as I watch the new year ring in on FOX, and drink my egg nog.   (virgin that is)

[orphanedhawk]

I have cirrhosis.
I’ve been taking milk thistle, omega 3 fish oil, turmeric, SAM-e, ALA, fish oil and bromelain for months. I recently added glutamine re: your recommendation.
I’m small, thin, active when able, and eat complex carbs, veggies, fruit and only small amounts of animal protein.
     happy new year!
  

[Hepatitis Researcher]

Not much you can do at this point beyond waiting for your hopefully UND post EOT PCR and persuing a healthy lifestyle. It sounds as if you had way too much weight before tx, that in itself can be a reason to relapse, most hopefully not in your case. Maybe you can persuade your doc to give you a 12wk post EOT PCR, so that your painful wait is shortened.

[sfbaygirl]

OH,  I know you are stage 4, right? I am stage 1/2  Antifibrotics would really seem to help you, as it seems you have progressed into cirrohisis.  Me on the otherhand have had this for perhaps 30 years when I got an airgun shot going through a border in Morroco.  I haven't progressed much and the fibroscan shows that my liver looks really good in most places and then bad in others.   My fibrosis hasn't progressed much.  Everyone is different in how fast the progression is.  Of course, no one knows why this is. My Dr. says, I will most likely die from smoking than Hep C.  Trying to Quit!!!    So HR, is there any correlation in why someone with little progression versus fast progression may be helped with these antifibrotics? Or if they will?