Better Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome for Coffee Drinkers

[Boobert]

Better Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome for Coffee Drinkers


An American study finds that coffee consumption may increase the Hepatitis C treatment success rate.

Coffee May Improve Virologic Response to Hep C Treatment

Patients receiving hepatitis C therapy who drink three or more cups of coffee per day are more likely to respond to treatment compared to nondrinkers, according to a study published in the June issue of Gastroenterology.

FRIDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Patients receiving hepatitis C therapy who drink three or more cups of coffee per day are more likely to respond to treatment compared to nondrinkers, according to a study published the June issue of Gastroenterology.

Neal D. Freedman, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., and colleagues investigated the effect of coffee intake on patients receiving therapy for hepatitis C. Coffee intake was assessed in 885 patients before being re-treated with 180 µg/week peginterferon alpha-2a and 1000 to 1200 mg/day ribavirin. Serum hepatitis C virus RNA levels were assessed to indicate virologic response in 466 patients at week 12 (early response), in 320 patients at week 20, in 284 patients at the end of treatment (week 48), and in 157 patients at 72 weeks (sustained response).

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[susan400]

My husband looked it up in the drug reference software program that he has (remember he's a nurse) and specifically looked up Pegasys. Absolutely no mention of the back of the arm not being recommended.  I also asked specifically this question to my study nurse yesterday and she agreed that it does not make any difference as long as it is in a fatty area and is sub-Q.  Like I said above, I've only used that site like 2 times out of the hundreds of times I've injected various interferons, Intron-A, Peg-Intron, Pegasys, Infergen, Actimmune Interferon- that was used in along with another interferon during the course of the same treatment.  So, I have no worries about the 2 injections that I actually did had these injections to the back of my upper arm.  

Susan400

[Aaron57]

Here's a few links to the study that folks refer to on this subject .. HALT-C

http://www.natap.org/2011/HCV/060211_03.htm

http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(11)00273-3/fulltext

"In contrast to results for coffee, no effect was observed for drinking tea (P trend = .92, .96, .89, and .49 for early, week 20, week 48, and sustained virologic response, respectively."

[curiouslady1]

Any comments about green tea?  Yerba Matte is a pretty heavyweight South American green tea.  It is a little easier on the reflux than the coffee.

[Aaron57]

Your welcome ...  only my opinion , if the manufacturer said don't do it there because there will be a reduction of efficiency ... thats good enough for me not to , usually I question things in life ... this one .. nope ;)

Also, I'm paying hard earned $ for this Tx ... I want the full 100% bang for my buck !
Just did # 34 ...

And keeping on drinking .... coffee ... and lot's of water of course : )

[Bali05]

Was just reading another article on the coffee benefits for HCV and it appears
researches are assuming that coffee effects certain enzymes which could play a role.
For example Cytochrom -P450 - Enzyme is important for fat metabolism.
Studies show reduction of metabolic syndrome with higher coffee consumption.

[flcyclist]

Thank you for providing this important information on the injection sites.  I'm not sure if the addtional 20-30% adsorption would make any difference, but I'm taking no chances since I want to maximize my chances of SVR.  

Good question on the PI's and coffee.  One more variable to consider.