Condition
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that can cause ongoing inflammation and, over time, damage. Among supplements, TUDCA, a bile acid, has the most research behind it, and in one very small study of five people, liver cell content went up. That evidence is limited, and it shows nothing yet about the virus itself or how people felt, so the picture is still early.
Sources: PMID 8541578
- Supplements studied
- 5
- Medicines and peptides
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 3
- Trials
- 5
- People studied
- 661
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver Cell Content Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 5 people | ||
Studies that measured liver cell content | ||||||
| Liver Enzymes | Changes; see studies | 4 studies | 155 people | |||
Studies that measured liver enzymes
| ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilirubin No effect | NoneNo effect | 30 people | ||||
| Blood glucose | Changes; see studies | 2 studies | 30 people | |||
Studies that measured blood glucose | ||||||
| Red Blood Cell Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 30 people | |||
Studies that measured red blood cell count | ||||||
| HCV Viral Load | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
| Liver Enzymes | Changes; see studies | 30 people | ||||
| Serum Albumin | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
| White Blood Cell Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
Silymarin
- Liver Enzymes: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver Enzymes | Changes; see studies | 6 studies | 202 people | |||
Studies that measured liver enzymes
| ||||||
S-adenosylmethionine
- Early Virologic Response: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Virologic Response | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 21 people | |||
Studies that measured early virologic response | ||||||
Spirulina
- HVC Viral Load: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVC Viral Load | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 66 people | |||
Studies that measured hvc viral load | ||||||
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Thymosin Alpha-1
- Viral Load Reduction: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viral Load Reduction Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 290 people |
Key findings
- Liver Cell ContentImproves (the measure goes up)
- Bilirubin
The Hepatitis C Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 3 supporting supplements
- TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid)250–500 mg daily
- Milk Thistle (Silymarin)420 mg silymarin daily (divided doses)
Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Thymosin alpha 1 alleviates inflammation and prevents infection in patients with severe acute pancreatitis through immune regulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- The efficacy and safety of thymosin α1 for sepsis (TESTS): multicentre, double blinded, randomised, placebo controlled, phase 3 trial.
- The efficacy and safety of thymosin alpha-1 combined with lenvatinib plus sintilimab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study.
- PD-1 inhibitor combined with SBRT, GM-CSF, and thymosin alpha-1 in metastatic breast cancer: A case report and literature review.
- Thymosin α1 reverses oncolytic adenovirus-induced M2 polarization of macrophages to improve antitumor immunity and therapeutic efficacy.
- Thymosin Alpha 1 Plus Routine Treatment for the Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Comprehensive Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Thymosin Alpha 1 in Human Clinical Trials.
- Thymosin α-1 in cancer therapy: Immunoregulation and potential applications
- Thymosin alpha 1 - Reimagine its broader applications in the immuno-oncology era
- The efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 therapy in moderate to critical COVID-19 patients: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.
- Thymosin α-1 Reverses M2 Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages during Efferocytosis.
- Thymosin alpha 1 as an adjuvant to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in an experimental model of peritoneal metastases from colonic carcinoma.
- Thymosin alpha-1 therapy improves postoperative survival after curative resection for solitary hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis.
- Combination of Gemcitabine and Thymosin alpha 1 exhibit a better anti-tumor effect on nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma.
- Thymosin alpha 1 exerts beneficial extrapulmonary effects in cystic fibrosis.
- Effects of Nigella sativa on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and biomarkers of inflammatory and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
- Effects of spirulina and wakame consumption on intestinal cholesterol absorption and serum lipid concentrations in non-hypercholesterolemic adult men and women
- Thymosin α1 therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19: A multicenter retrospective cohort study
- Immunopotentiator thymosin alpha-1 attenuates inflammatory pain by modulating the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway in spinal cord.
- Thymosin Alpha 1 Reduces the Mortality of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 by Restoration of Lymphocytopenia and Reversion of Exhausted T Cells.
- The clinical efficacy and adverse effects of Entecavir plus Thymosin alpha-1 combination therapy versus Entecavir Monotherapy in HBV-related cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Black Seed and Its Active Component Thymoquinone: Clinical Applications
- Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone: A Therapeutic Promise for COVID-19 and Beyond
- Nigella sativa for Diabetes Management: A Review of Clinical Studies
- Safety and Efficacy of Nigella sativa in Clinical Practice
- Spirulina in Health and Disease Prevention: A Comprehensive Review
- Thymosin alpha-1; a natural peptide inhibits cellular proliferation, cell migration, the level of reactive oxygen species and promotes the activity of antioxidant enzymes in human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line (A549).
- Thymosin Alpha-1 Inhibits Complete Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Pain and Production of Microglia-Mediated Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Spinal Cord.
- Antioxidant and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of thymosin alpha-1 (Thα1) peptide.
- Nigella sativa (Black Seed): A Comprehensive Review of Its Biological Effects
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Nigella sativa: A Systematic Review
- Nigella sativa (Black Seed) and Blood Pressure: A Comprehensive Review
- Spirulina Supplementation and Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
- Spirulina and Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review
- Spirulina (Arthrospira): Nutritional Value and Health Effects
- Spirulina and Immune Function: A Systematic Review
- Safety Assessment of Spirulina (Arthrospira) as a Dietary Supplement
- Thymosin alpha 1 treatment for patients with sepsis
- Therapeutic Properties of Nigella sativa: A Clinical Review
- Therapeutic Effects of Nigella sativa in Metabolic Syndrome: A Review
- Antioxidant and Anti-Cancer Effects of Nigella sativa: Evidence from Clinical Trials
- A Systematic Review of the Effects of Spirulina on Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- Effects of Spirulina on Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses
- Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Spirulina: Evidence from Clinical Studies
- Effects of Spirulina on Body Weight and Blood Glucose: A Meta-Analysis
- Immune Modulation with Thymosin Alpha 1 Treatment
- Thymosin alpha1 based immunomodulatory therapy for sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Thymosin alpha-1 treatment in chronic hepatitis B.
- Historical review of thymosin α 1 in infectious diseases.
- Effect of Spirulina maxima on postprandial lipemia in young runners: a preliminary report
- Thymosin α1 and cancer: action on immune effector and tumor target cells
- Effect of thymosin alpha-1 on subpopulations of Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro
- Thymosin-alpha 1 (Zadaxin) enhances the immunogenicity of an adjuvated pandemic H1N1v influenza vaccine (Focetria) in hemodialyzed patients: a pilot study.
- Thymosin alpha-1 with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C not responsive to IFN/ribavirin: an adjuvant role?
- [Treatment with interferon and thymosin alpha-1 versus interferon monotherapy for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis].
- Utility of thymosin alpha-1 (Zadaxin) as a co-adjuvant in influenza vaccines: a review.
- Transcription profile of human lymphocytes following in vitro treatment with thymosin alpha-1.
- Thymosin alpha 1 for treatment of hepatitis C virus: promise and proof.
- Treatment with lamivudine versus lamivudine and thymosin alpha-1 for e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients: a meta-analysis.
- Comparison of the efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 and interferon alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis.
- Wheat grass supplementation decreases oxidative stress in healthy subjects: a comparative study with spirulina
- Efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 and interferon alpha in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B: a randomized controlled study.
- Thymalfasin (thymosin-alpha 1) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
- Thymalfasin (thymosin-alpha 1) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
- Thymosin alpha(1) in combination with cytokines and chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
- Thymosin alpha-1
- Thymosin alpha 1 in the treatment of cancer: from basic research to clinical application
- Thymosin alpha1 treatment of chronic hepatitis B: results of a phase III multicentre, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study
- Efficacy of thymosin alpha1 in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a randomized, controlled trial
- Thymosin alpha 1 antagonizes dexamethasone and CD3-induced apoptosis of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes through the activation of cAMP and protein kinase C dependent second messenger pathways.
- Thymosin alpha 1 protects liver and aorta from oxidative damage in atherosclerotic rabbits.
- Thymosin alpha 1 effects, in vitro, on lymphokine-activated killer cells from patients with primary immunodeficiencies: preliminary results.
- Thymosin alpha-1 as adjunct for conventional therapy of malignant tumors: a review.
- Thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4 modulate human colonic lamina propria lymphocyte function.
- Thymosin alpha 1 modulates the expression of high affinity interleukin-2 receptors on normal human lymphocytes.
- A radioimmunoassay for thymosin alpha-1.
- Thymosin alpha 1-induced modulation of cellular responses and functional T-cell subsets in mice with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Thymosin alpha 1 restores NK-cell activity and prevents tumor progression in mice immunosuppressed by cytostatics or X-rays.
- Immunochemical studies on thymosin: radioimmunoassay of thymosin alpha 1.
- Effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of powdered Nigella sativa (kalonji) seed in capsules on serum lipid levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight in adults: results of a randomized, double-blind controlled trial
- Antihypertensive effects of Nigella sativa supplementation: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Endothelial Function Responses to Nigella sativa (Black Seed) Supplementation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- The effect of Nigella sativa Linn. seed on memory, attention and cognition in healthy human volunteers
- Efficacy of Nigella sativa on serum free testosterone and metabolic disturbances in central obese male
- Potential adjuvant effects of Nigella sativa seeds to improve specific immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis patients
- Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases
- Herbal treatment of allergic rhinitis: the use of Nigella sativa
- Clinical evaluation of Nigella sativa seeds for the treatment of hyperlipidemia: a randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial
- The possible prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in asthmatic patients
- Antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in patients with mild hypertension
- Effects of Nigella sativa on outcome of hepatitis C in Egypt
- Effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a placebo controlled study
- Effect of Nigella sativa seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
- supplementation improves cardiometabolic indicators in population with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The possible prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa seed aqueous extract on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function tests on chemical war victims: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Effect of Nigella sativa Consumption on Lipid Profile and Glycemic Index in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effect of Nigella sativa oil on various clinical and biochemical parameters of insulin resistance syndrome
- The effect of thymoquinone on intractable pediatric seizures (pilot study)