Colostrum and Hepatitis C
About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a blood – borne virus, causing infectious, viral disease. Inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus is often asymptomatic, but can result in faggoting scarring of the liver called cirrhosis and liver cancer. Up to 200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis c virus.
There are two stages of hepatitic C infection:
acute hepatitis C
and chronic hepatitis C
Acute hepatitis C is the period in the first 6 months after infection with HCV. After that, 70% to 80% of infected people progress to chronic hepatitis C due to no or very mild symptoms of acute hepatitis C. They are very mild and non-specific and rarely lead to the diagnose of hepatitis C.
Approximately 20% - 30% of those infected clear the virus during the acute period of infection.
Hepatitis C virus is detectable in blood three weeks after infection and antibodies are detected within 3 – 12 weeks.
Symptoms
Progression of liver diseases vary from person to person among untreated patients; around 1/3 progress to liver cirrhosis in less than 20 years and another 1/3 in the span of 30 years. The rest of patients are progressing slowly and they are unlikely to develop cirrhosis within their lifetimes.
Symptoms suggesting liver diseases are absent until scarring of the liver has occurred.
However, hepatitis C is a systematic disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations.
Generalized symptoms associated with hepatitis C include fatigue, marked weight loss, flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, joint pain, low-grade fevers, itching, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain [especially in the right upper quadrant], bowl discomfort, appetite changes, nausea, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, cognitive changes, depression, headaches, mood swings, night sweating and hair loss.
With the progress of disease to cirrhosis, signs and symptoms may be caused by the decreased liver function or increased pressure in the liver circulation include ascites, bruising and bleeding tendency, bone pain, varices, fatty stools, jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy,.
For more information about hepatitis C, see www.hepctrust.org.uk
holvita™ colostrum and Hepatitis C
Colostrum has the ability to help to fight viral infections and help to relieve the symptoms of chronic hepatitis c due to huge support which is given to immune system. Colostrum's anti-viral properties include:
- Lactoferrin: an iron binding protein with antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.It is currently being studied for its effects against the HIV virus, herpes and even cancer.
- Cytokines: which regulate the intensity of the immune response. They are known to boost the production of antibodies important in fighting viral infections.
- Leukocytes: the white blood cells that engulf invading organisms, including viruses.
References:
Ushijima H, Dairaku M, Honnma H, Mukoyama A, Kitamura T. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1990 Mar;64(3):274-9. Related Articles, Links,[Immunoglobulin components and anti-viral activities in bovine colostrum][Article in Japanese],Department of Enteroviruses, National Institute of Health, Japan
Ushijima H, Dairaku M, Honnma H, Mukoyama A, Kitamura T. (1990) Immunoglobulin components and anti-viral activities in bovine colostrum. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1990 Mar;64:274-279.
van Hooijdonk AC, Kussendrager KD, Steijns JM., In vivo antimicrobial and antiviral activity of components in bovine milk and colostrum involved in non-specific defence., Br J Nutr. 2000 Nov;84 Suppl 1:S127-34. Related Articles, Links,DMV International, R&D Center, PO Box 13, 5460 BA Veghel, The Netherlands.
Shortridge, KF, Lawton, JW, Choi, EK. Protective potential of colostrum and early milk against prospective influenza viruses. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 36(2):94-95 (1990).
Rump JA, Arndt R, Arnold A, Bendick C, Dichtelmuller H, Franke M, Helm EB, Jager H, Kampmann B, Kolb P, et al. Treatment of diarrhoea in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum. Clin Investig. 1992 Jul;70(7):588-94.
Pizza, G, Amadori, M, Ablashi, D, De Vinci, C, Viza, D. (2006). Cell mediated immunity to meet the avian influenza A (H5N1) challenge. Medical Hypoteses 67(3):601-8. As no vaccine can be made ahead of time for a possible bird flu pandemic, cell mediated immunity via specific transfer factor (PRP) may be useful for both the prevention and treatment of infection.
Petschow, BW, Talbott, RD. Reduction in virus-neutralizing activity of a bovine colostrum immunoglobulin concentrate by gastric acid and digestive enzymes. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 19(2):228-235 (1994).
Palmer,E.L. et al. Antiviral Activity of Colostrum and Serum Immunoglobulins A and G. J. Med. Virol. 5:123-129. 1980.
Mitra AK, Mahalanabis D, Ashraf H, Unicomb L, Eeckels R, Tzipori S. Acta Paediatr. 1995 Sep;84(9):996-1001. Related Articles, Links, Hyperimmune cow colostrum reduces diarrhoea due to rotavirus: a double-blind, controlled clinical trial. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka Bangladesh.
Immunoglobulin components and anti-viral activities in bovine colostrum. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1990 Mar;64(3):274-9.