{mosimage}By George D. Henderson (AHCS)

The following shows an interesting finding in HCV in Taiwan. If this is typical of HCV status in our population, it might indicate that Copper should not generally be supplemented in HCV, and that Copper (Cu) status should be assessed at the same time as Iron (Copper has similar oxidising properties to Iron, and is essential for the antioxidant enzyme SOD).
In the tests, HCV patients had significantly LOWER Selenium and Zinc than controls (as we might expect) but significantly HIGHER Copper.
Copper is often included in liver tonics because it is needed for SOD and can be depleted by Zinc supplementation. However, Copper deficiency is rare except in very high dose Zinc supplementation. Perhaps it should be avoided altogether pending evaluation of copper levels.
Kordel's Men's Multivitamin (iron free) is my Multivitamin of choice. It contains 15mg zinc, 2 mg manganese and NO copper. I believe that supplementation of all the B vitamins in the 25-100 mg range is important for HCV treatment as optimum B's are needed for synthesis of Co-enzyme Q 10, Glutathione, SAMe and Alpha Lipoic Acid from protein. Also, this supplement contains 300iu Vitamin D3 (an anticancer vitamin easily depleted in hepatitis) and has a relatively low (but adequate) Vitamin A/Beta carotene content. It contains optimum molybdenum (125mcg) Pyridoxine (25mg) folic acid (300mcg) and B12 (50mcg) - these are needed for the optimum metabolism of l-methionine etc. Over the years I have tried many multis, I always come back to Kordel's Men's as the best formulation for the special needs of men and women with HCV (This is not an Advert!) and this is yet another reason confirming that choice.

Kordel's Mens does not contain adequate Magnesium and magnesium I believe is second only to selenium (maybe zinc, maybe not) in importance in Hep C. The most obvious symptom of magnesium deficiency is painful leg muscle cramps, especially on waking and during sexual intercourse. Multivitamins never have enough magnesium as the doses (200-400mg) needed take up too much space. But magnesium can be supplemented cheaply by using a product available from most dairies: Quick Eze is sold for acid stomach (heartburn and reflux). The square, chewable lozenges only contain Calcium carbonate but the original, round white ones (the packet looks like lifesavers) contains useful amounts of Magnesium Carbonate in balance with Calcium.
Only use Quick-Eze on an empty stomach, as it will interfere with the digestion of food otherwise. However I find stomach pH returns to normal pretty quickly. I take 2 twice daily; adjusting to an intake that prevents leg cramps in the mornings and toe cramps during coitus. I've had these cramps for most of my life, due initially to my poor dietary habits and later to hepatitis, so they are a good guide for me; other signs are twitches, for example of the eyelids - magnesium deficiencies are relatively common in growing children.

Here's the experiment:


Blood micronutrient, oxidative stress, and viral load in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Ko WS, Guo CH, Yeh MS, Lin LY, Hsu GS, Chen PC, Luo MC, Lin CY.

Department of Food and Nutrition, Hung Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, China.

AIM: To assess the extent of micronutrient and oxidative stress in blood and to examine their linkages with viral loads in chronic hepatitis C patients.

METHODS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA levels were quantified in the serum from 37 previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. The plasma and erythrocyte micronutrients (zinc, selenium, copper, and iron) were estimated, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were determined as a marker to detect oxidative stress. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities in blood were also measured. The control group contained 31 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS: The contents of zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) in plasma and erythrocytes were significantly lower in hepatitis C patients than in the controls. On the contrary, copper (Cu) levels were significantly higher. Furthermore, plasma and erythrocyte MDA levels, and the SOD and GR activities in erythrocytes significantly increased in hepatitis C patients compared to the controls. However, the plasma GPX activity in patients was markedly lower. Plasma Se (r = -0.730, P<0.05), Cu (r = 0.635), and GPX (r = -0.675) demonstrated correlations with HCV-RNA loads. Significant correlation coefficients were also observed between HCV-RNA levels and erythrocyte Zn (r = -0.403), Se (r = -0.544), Cu (r = 0.701) and MDA (r = 0.629) and GR (r = 0.441).

CONCLUSION: The levels of Zn, Se, Cu, and oxidative stress (MDA), as well as related anti-oxidative enzymes (GR and GPX) in blood have important impact on the viral factors in chronic hepatitis C. The distribution of these parameters might be significant biomarkers for HCV.

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