Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of your liver, resulting in a variety of adverse health effects. Hepatitis can be caused by an autoimmune disease, liver damage from alcohol or poisons and the overuse of some medications. Hepatitis A, B and C are caused by infections from viruses, bacteria or parasites. According to a 2010 study published in the "European Journal of Nutrition," Hepatitis lowers the amount of B vitamins in your body. Supplementing with B-complex vitamins may help improve some of the symptoms associated with hepatitis. If you have hepatitis, talk with your doctor first before using B complex vitamins.
Folic Acid
Folic acid, also called vitamin B-9, can be used as a safe and effective treatment for some of the symptoms of viral hepatitis. According to a 1999 study published in the journal, "Experimental Toxicologic Pathology," 5 mg of folic acid supplementation over the course of 10 days reduced some of the chemical markers that are associated with liver inflammation. Folic acid can also be safely combined with medications specifically designed to treat hepatitis.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, may help improve some of the symptoms associated with hepatitis. According to a 2007 study published in the journal, "Georgian Medical News," researchers found that vitamin B-6 supplementation can increase the effectiveness of some popular drugs for the treatment of hepatitis. These effects were magnified when vitamin B-6 was combined with another folic acid.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is found in high concentrations in your liver and is suppressed when the virus causing hepatitis C is present. According to a 2001 study published in the journal, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America," vitamin B-12 intake can inhibit the action of the hepatitis C virus. Vitamin B-12 may also help treat chronic fatigue associated with hepatitis by increasing red blood cell production and oxygen delivery to various body tissues.
Precautions and Recommendations
B-complex vitamins may cause some side effects including gout, high blood sugar, and skin problems. Taking too much B vitamin may also cause liver stress, which is especially important if you suffer from hepatitis because your liver is already compromised. Supplementing with B complex vitamins if you have hepatitis should only be done under the direct supervision of your physician.
References
- PubMed Health: Hepatitis
- "European Journal of Nutrition"; Vitamins B Status and Antioxidative Defense in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C Virus Infection; C.C. Lin, et al.; December 2010
- "Today's Herbal Health: The Essential Reference Guide"; Louise Tenney; 2007
- "Georgian Medical News"; Efficacy and Safety of Heptral, Vitamin B-6 and Folic Acid During Toxic Hepatitis Induced by CCL4; N.A. Antelava, et al.; September 2007
- "Experimental Toxicologic Pathology;" The Effect of Folic Acid on the Drug Metabolizing Liver Function in Man with Viral Hepatitis; I.U. Zviarynski and L.B. Zavodnik; July 1999
- "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America"; Vitamin B-12 and Hepatitis C: Molecular Biology and Human Pathology; W.B. Lott, et al.; April 2001
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