Condition
Acute Viral Hepatitis
Acute viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, or E, bringing fatigue, nausea, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. Milk thistle and N-acetyl cysteine have the strongest evidence, rated moderate, and in a small Kutki study bilirubin, the pigment behind jaundice, went down. That Kutki study involved just 33 people, and oxymatrine research for hepatitis B used injections, not oral products.
- Supplements studied
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 3
- Trials
- 1
- People studied
- 33
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver Enzymes Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 33 people | ||
Studies that measured liver enzymes | ||||||
| Bilirubin Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 33 people | |||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B Viral Load Oxymatrine has been studied in Chinese clinical settings for hepatitis B, primarily as an injectable preparation. Some human data suggest antiviral effects against HBV, but research quality is limited, and these studies used parenteral (non-oral) administration under medical supervision. No rigorous RCTs of oral supplementation exist. | Changes; see studies | Small effect |
Key findings
- Liver EnzymesImproves (the measure goes down)
- BilirubinImproves (the measure goes down)
- Hepatitis B Viral LoadChanges; see studies
The Acute Viral Hepatitis Recovery Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
- Milk Thistle (Silymarin)420–600 mg silymarin daily in divided doses
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)600–1,200 mg twice daily
Studies cited
2 studies from PubMed