Lifestyle changes and complementary approaches

Many people with HCV have chosen to use alternative and complementary therapies to reduce symptoms. Chinese herbal medicine in particular is used quite widely in the United Kingdom. Among the most common herbal remedies for hepatitis are milk thistle (silymarin) and licorice root (glycyrrhizin). Many herbs are potentially toxic to the liver, however, and cannabis (marijuana) which many people use medicinally was linked to aggressive fibrosis in one study.1

Dietary adjustments and other changes in lifestyle are important. Reducing alcohol consumption or eliminating it entirely is among the most important lifestyle changes one can make as alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver damage in HCV-infected people.

Sustained weight loss and exercise may improve liver functioning and quality of life in people with hepatitis C, according to a recent study of HIV-negative people.2 In particular, obesity can contribute to steatosis, which is linked to more severe fibrosis. Given the potentially detrimental effect of weight loss in people with HIV, and the complicating effect of HIV treatments, people with HIV and hepatitis C should consult a specialist dietitian before embarking on a weight loss strategy.

References

  1. Hezode C et al. Daily cannabis smoking as a risk factor for progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Hepatol 42(1): 63-71, 2005
  2. Hickman IJ et al. Modest weight loss and physical activity in overweight patients with chronic liver disease results in sustained improvements in alanine aminotransferase, fasting insulin, and quality of life. Gut 53: 413-419, 2004
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