Hepatitis C & Daily Protein Intake

If you have hepatitis C, which is an inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection, you were likely counseled by your doctor to change your diet. You may be experiencing decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting. However, it is important to get adequate nutrition, particularly protein, in order to protect your liver from further damage.

HCV is Progressive

Type C hepatitis, or HCV, is contracted by exposure to blood or bodily fluids from another infected individual. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 85 percent of HCV patients will develop chronic infection and 20 percent will develop liver cirrhosis. The liver plays a large role in metabolism, and deterioration of the liver affects the way your body handles food. There are specific dietary recommendations aimed at protecting the liver from disease progression.

Protein Requirements for HCV

Medical nutrition therapy is aimed at providing the liver with nutrients needed for regeneration. In "Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology," authors advise that HCV patients maintain a protein level of approximately .45 g to .55 g per lb. of body weight. A 143 lb. person would require 65 g to 78 g of protein daily. In patients who progress to end-stage liver disease and hepatic coma, protein intake will need to be decreased during acute phases of the disease, or when clinical signs and symptoms are at peak levels. Protein should be increased to the above levels as soon as the patient is no longer in an acute phase of liver disease.

Adequate Calorie Intake Spares Protein

A calorie intake of 13.6 to 16 calories per pound of body weight is recommended with a goal of reaching 3,000 calories per day. High calorie intakes are necessary to prevent the body from breaking down and utilizing its own tissue and protein for energy so excess muscle wasting does not occur. People with HCV often have inadequate food intake due to poor appetite. The American Association of the Study of Liver Diseases recommends small, frequent meals to help meet calorie recommendations. If calorie levels cannot be maintained, you may be prescribed concentrated, high energy liquids. Your health-care team will consider tube feeding if calorie levels still cannot be maintained.

It is Important to Follow Recommendations

The 20 percent of HCV patients whose condition will progress to liver chirrhosis, according to the CDC, are at increased risk of liver cancer. Liver cancer often necessitates liver transplantion. It is important to get adequate calories and protein to decrease your chances of disease progression. Visit the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the American Liver Foundation online for more important dietary considerations. There is a link in the Resources section. Talk to your doctor about your condition to get individualized care and recommendations.