Effects of Alcohol

[dointime]

It is well known that heavy alcohol consumption can lead to severe liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but the effects of alcohol on HCV and its treatment are less well studied. As described in the December 15, 2008 Journal of Infectious Diseases, E. McCartney and colleagues performed a laboratory study using cultured Huh-7 cells to examine the effects of alcohol metabolism on HCV replication and the antiviral activity of interferon. They found that exposing the cells to ethanol significantly increased HCV replication, which was dependent on oxidative stress; when the researchers added NAC to the cell cultures, ethanol no longer increased HCV replication.  Furthermore, the anti-HCV activity of interferon was also reduced in the presence of ethanol. "These in vitro results mimic what is often noted clinically," the researchers concluded, supporting the recommendation that people with chronic hepatitis C should avoid alcohol or consume only small amounts.

[jmjm530]

Rocker: Are you concerned about the occult virus thing and alcoholAlcohol and diet
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I think we should be much more concerned about the long-term affects from interferon than about occult/persistent virus. SVR appears durable but unfortunately so seem tx side effects at least with some of us.  I also think the whole alcohol thing (in moderation) has been way overblown and turned into some sort of mantra. "Like pouring gasoline on a fire" is a lot sexier than saying "like pouring crisco into a cookie mix". LOL. But worse than that I think it suckers some people into thinking that they're leading a liver healthy lifestyle if they simply stop drinking. Unfortunately it's a lot more complex than that.  The liver is a complex system and just like it's OK to take Tylenol and Statins within appropriate limits, the same with alcohol which also has some medicinal benefits when not abused. So my friend, if you want that beer after you finish treatment, the first round is on me but I suggest the second round be some mineral water :)

-- Jim

[Rockerforlife]

Are you concerned about the occult virus thing and alcohol?.....i will admit i do miss my cold beer...but if tx supposes to reverse liver damage...dosent this allow for a few drinks?....like i said....i i do remaim SVR 24 post tx....i will have having me a cold beer....after 5 years of no alchol....i think i deserve a cold one...i dont care about the occult virus...ill just do a exorcism ...that will take care of the occult virus

[Harry Potter]

Great post, you put it better than I ever could.  It's hilarious how a lot of people mistakenly think that not drinking is the best & only thing they need do to keep their livers in good shape.  I'm a sweet tooth myself, & saw my ALT levels increase to their all-time high of 32 while having lots of sweetened coffee...come Tues (inauguration day & a whole new me) I'm going to pretend that sugar is like alcohol & will cut it out completely!  I myself choose not to drink alcohol at all now, just because I know I wouldn't enjoy it & would worry more than it's worth, but I doubt that, in and of itself, a glass of wine here or there isn't going to ruin one's liver or cause the virus to replicate like copulating rabbits.

[granitekonig]

With all the talk about not drinking while on TX, why would you even risk it? I used to drink daily. Not to the point of being trashed but I enjoyed beer and wine a lot. I value my life and wanted to give TX the best potential for success, so I stopped drinking. It's that simple. If you can't stop drinking and you fail during TX I have no sympathy.

[Rockerforlife]

Green tea is ok....just dont drink too much....ive heard excessive amouts may be harmful to the body...not sure about the direct effect in tx drugs...but ive heard its ok....also its the green supplumets that may do the harm...thay are pretty potent...some of these pills equal 10 cups /pill

[GreatBird]

Thanks! I just hadn't heard about green tea having any adverse effects on anything. I tend to drink it when I can--especially cold out of the bottle like they do in Japan. Maybe I shouldn't?

[fxr_rusty]

IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN, ALCHOL (POSSIBILY DRUGS) PROBABLY HAD A HAND IN PASSIN THIS DISEASE TO ME. WHEATHER IT WAS A 1980'S TATOO OR BEING BLOOD BROTHER WITH SITTIN BULL, I PROBABLY WAS IN AN ALTERED STATE WHEN I WAS GIVEN THIS LOVELY GIFT. (KNOWING MY CRAZY SELF)  SO  AS FOR ME AND MY BODY WE WILL OBSTAIN.  THE SURVEY ON DOING NOTHING (DRINKING OR DRUGGING) IS GUARANTEED 100% FOOL  PROOF.  (TAKE IT FROM A FOOL)  FXR  RUSTY

[Rockerforlife]

AC/DC Have a Drink


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEeKkU4R6yw&feature=related

[Tippyclubb]

You are in a different trial, maybe thats why they didn't mention it.  They told me no green tea because it may interfere with viral load---there not sure, and investigating it.  

[GreatBird]

Wow, that's so interesting. They didn't say a word about grapefruit or green tea on my trial, but I know enough to avoid the grapefruit (which is a shame because I love it). Did they say why you shouldn't have any green tea? Is black tea allowable as far as you know?

[Tippyclubb]

To All :  I was just wondering if the virus was undetected how could it replicate,  and Great Bird explained why.  Now it makes sense.  I was not implying I was going to take up drinking while on tx.

Not once during the trial screening was I told not to drink alcohol, which I found very odd,  seeing as I was told not to drink green tea, or grapefruit juice.  I assumed they didn't bring it up because my blood work showed no alcohol consumption, and I have very low liver damage.  

In April we are taking a vacation to a tropical island and I asked the trial nurse,  IF  I had A cocktail on the beach, would alcohol reduce the strength of the meds.  I was shocked when she said "No"  She said the main reason they tell people not to drink is because alcohol dehydrates and so does the meds.  She said they have a patient that drinks a six pack of beer every Saturday and he's doing well.  That also shocked me.  She did go on to say in no way was she advocating drinking, but it does not reduce the potency of the drugs.

I just found it very unusual this trial doesn't stress the no drinking attitude.  Not once did they mention it.

[nygirl7]

Cando - I'm a chubbo it must be the sweets, all that chocolate....  ;)


Jim - I was responding to the person above (tippyclubb). Nobody ever said a glass of wine occasionally is going to hurt someone once they are SVR and you know it but anybody cant stop moderate drinking who has advanced liver damage really shouldn't be encouraged that it's perfectly fine to just let loose every night.  Just cause you are SVR doesn't mean that stage 3/4 liver death is gone and you should do everything as liver concious as possible to maintain it's health.

People however have free will and can do whatever they choose to in life. That is as much a blessing as a curse but it's the truth.  It only seems responsible to me however to encourage people more to the 'be careful' rather than 'heck just do what you want' logic that is easier.

Just my opinion hasn't changed much in the last five years.

[can-do-man]

Hmmm, I'm not a drinker but i do smoke and could have better eating habits so your not going to catch me throwing stones here....... NYGirl and you???? :) :)

[jmjm530]

This presumes that we are all indolent, overweight smokers
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LOL. No, I'm sure we all are not. Just making a point, but maybe not too well.

Look, how many times have people posted about their eating habits (off treatment), etc, etc. Rarely, do they get the kind of flack someone gets when they suggest drinking a glass of wine with dinner. That's more what I meant along with the bigger idea that a liver  healthy lifestyle is a lot more complex than drinking alcohol or not.

That said, although I'm sure there have been some "indolent, overweight smokers" chiming in on these threads but I'm sure it' not you or anyone else reading this :)

-- Jim

[jdwithhcv]

"Unless you're willing to give up sweets, get down to an ideal BMI, exercise on a regular basis, stop smoking cigarettes"
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This presumes that we are all indolent, overweight smokers.  Where does that come from?

[GreatBird]

I completely agree. And don't get me started on aspartame or splenda.  

[jmjm530]

Over consumption of high fructose corn syrup is potentially worse for your liver than moderate alcohol consumption.

Unless you're willing to give up sweets, get down to an ideal BMI, exercise on a regular basis, stop smoking cigarettes -- then I find it odd that people make this argument against alcohol, especially since  -- unlike the other things mentioned -- studies suggest health benefits in terms of the heart.

[charm27]

My opinion only Unless a person has a drinking problem- I dont understand why a person would miss drinking occasionally?  Alchohol is not important to someone who doesnt have a drinking problem. They shouldnt miss it or even think about it, especially under our circumstances.

I'd have a harder time living without pasta and roast beef than an occasional drink.
Especially since we have HCV!! and thats a NO NO.

Not worth it--Its so insignificant to me.
My opinion only.
After all the problems we go thru with this disease,tx, retxing etc.
WHY would you jeopardize yourself by even thinking of it--when its not important?

Charm

[desrt]

Look for an increase in sales of NAC.

[jmjm530]

Maybe I'm reading you incorrectly, but no one is suggesting anyone should drink alcohol on treatment. I had assumed the implications of the study -- plus Dointime's follow-up post -- referred to alcohol consumption before and after treatment.

[nygirl7]

Just a though!  One becomes undetectable early on in tx, lets say the 6th week , then there is nothing to replicate, if one had an occasional glass of wine.  Is that correct?


Alcohol can diminish the effects of interferon and render them moot.  At week 6 you can't possibly know in a million years if you are truly really UND and SVR. As GreatBird said that is why we must continue treatment for many more weeks and train our immune systems to continue beating down any occult virus that may be hiding.

[jmjm530]

Old topic. Nothing new here. But for those new here, many of us have been told by our doctors it's OK to drink alcohol in moderation. There are no studies that suggest moderate alcohol consumption either progresses fibrosis or impedes SVR.

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/online/monograph/hepc/biopsy.htm#cofact
http://www.natap.org/2004/HCV/040104_02.htm
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/488940_3 (free Medscape Registration Required)

[GreatBird]

Just because you are undetectable doesn't mean there is no virus present. That's why the tx continues for weeks and weeks longer. One should not drink on tx. I don't even think I could if I wanted to.

[Tippyclubb]

Just a though!  One becomes undetectable early on in tx, lets say the 6th week , then there is nothing to replicate, if one had an occasional glass of wine.  Is that correct?