Treatment for Patients with Hepatitis C and Fatty Liver Disease

Patients with hepatitis C are at risk for associated liver conditions like fatty liver disease, which can also lead to cirrhosis (severe scarring), compromising liver function, also making the patient at high risk for liver cancer.

When I was diagnosed with hepatitis C, and after being cured, my hepatologist continued to test my liver with blood tests and yearly sonograms to monitor any signs of associated liver problems.

Early detection, proactive steps, and treatment can help cirrhosis and cancer risk.

How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?

Hepatitis C is diagnosed with a blood test that looks specifically for the presence of the hepatitis C virus, and it is not a part of routine blood work.

Fatty Liver Disease is diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Fatty liver disease is fat build-up in the liver and is associated with diabetes¹.

Treatment medication for fatty liver disease

There are a variety of FDA-approved treatments for hepatitis C with a high cure rate, but these treatments do not treat fatty liver disease.

For fatty liver disease, Harvard Health of Harvard Medical School reports that there are no FDA-approved medications for fatty liver disease. So far, the two best drug options affirmed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease for biopsy-proven NASH are vitamin E (an antioxidant) and pioglitazone, which is used to treat diabetes¹.

Natural treatment options

For hepatitis C, there are no alternative treatments to cure the virus. But there are a variety of proactive steps to help your liver.

Avoid drinking alcohol and recreational drugs of all types. Avoid processed foods.

Eat a nutritious liver healthy diet. Lose weight if you are overweight.

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about over-the-counter medications and prescriptions that can harm the liver. Drink at least 64 ounces of pure water daily or water infused with lemon.

For fatty liver disease and following proactive steps to help your liver, the number one natural way to help with fatty liver disease is to lose weight if you are overweight, and this helps reduce the amount of fat in the liver. Talk to your doctor before starting any weight loss program or diet.

Your doctor and a registered dietitian can help develop the proper diet designed for your liver and health condition.

The good news, both hepatitis C and fatty liver disease can be resolved. Be proactive and help your liver help you.