This depletion may be a factor underlying the resistance to interferon therapy. Even in patients who do not respond to interferon therapy by itself, inasmuch as there still is active viral activity in the liver, there is a significant reduction in primary liver cancer. Studies show a systemic depletion of glutathione in hepatitis C patients, forming the basis for NAC and glutathione supplementation . The most recent published study showed that, in hepatitis C patients who initially failed interferon therapy, the addition of ribavirin to a new round of interferon therapy produced a tenfold increase in the number of patients showing eradication of detectable hepatitis C virus. However, it works only in a minority of patients when used without ribavirin.
Ribavirin increases the effectiveness of interferon therapy by up to tenfold.
The standard doses of Life Extension Mix and Life Extension Herbal Mix. Please note that some hepatitis C patients encounter liver enzyme elevations in response to the moderate doses of vitamin A, niacin and beta carotene in Life Extension Mix. If your liver-enzyme levels elevate after starting Life Extension Mix, discontinue it and take separately the other nutrients contained in Life Extension Mix. Beta carotene possesses unique immune-enhancing benefits that could help suppress the hepatitis C virus, but some hepatitis C patients cannot tolerate it. High doses of green tea and garlic, as well as chelation therapy, to reduce serum and liver iron levels to a minimum.