Supplements and vitamins

[Ginabros]

Hi everyone!

I live with both HCV and HBV.
I feel like I need to start taking good supplements to support and decongest my liver and I want to ask for your opinions. Today, I only take Milk Thistle.  Could you please share with me if you take individual vitamins or a mix/combination and believe it helps your liver?
I came accross this supplement and was wondering if anyone has taking it.

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Wellness-Clinical-Liver-Support/dp/B009CA7TVM

Thank you!

[dragonslayer]

Hi Gina,

I take this one:  https://www.amazon.com/Milk-Thistle-Absorbable-Effective-Wellness/dp/B002MFQZW8

But you can get it cheaper here with automatic monthly shpping:
http://www.naturalwellness.com/products/maximum-milk-thistle

It seems to have some study support and seems to be more absorbable than other forms.  I also take a daily multivitamin, but thats about it for daily supplement intake, aside from 2 scoops of Whey protein.

I dont know if this form of Milk Thistle works or not, but Ive been taking it for about 10 years, and despite having had HCV for about 40 years, have no liver damage.. Ive been SVR for 2 years now so Im thinking seriously of giving it up.   

[Lynn K]

Hi gina

If you have signifigant liver damage or cirrhosis you should run any and all medicines, vitamins, and herbal treatments you are considering taking by your liver doctor.

However, if you are less than a fibrosis score of F3 you are probably safe to take anything you want with the exception of avoiding high doses of Tylenol and any other med with a liver warning I would use caution with those.

Personally I am not a believer in milk thistle or any other herbal treatments. There  have been studies investigating the effectiveness of milk thistle and results of been mixed at best  so there really isn't much evidence to demonstrate any effectiveness of milk thistle.  But if you want to give it a try it's at least not harmful. Also avoid vitamins with iron as excess iron is a potential source of liver damage.

 But again that is assuming you do not have any liver damage. If you do, as I said earlier,  you need to discuss any and all medications you intend to take with your doctor.

As for myself I take a prescribed diuretic for my mild edema and small quantity of ascites both due to cirrhosis. I also take a multivitamin. I tried milk thistle in the past but still developed cirrhosis after 30 years of infection.

[Ginabros]

Thank you Paul and Lynn!
I don't have cirrouses but once I decide what vitamins/supplements to take,  I will definitely run them by my Hep doc.
Any particular brand for multivitamins you prefer?
I get promotions from the puritan pride but don't know if their vitamins are actually  good.

[Lynn K]

I just take one a day. I have also read if you have a balenced diet vitamins are also really not needed but I have a pretty bad diet. I don't cook at all so I figure I probably need some vitamins to off set

[Ginabros]

Thank you Lynn!