| Supplement | Amount | Why |
|---|
Flavonoids | 500 to 750 mg daily of catechins |  [3 stars] The flavonoid catechin has helped people with acute viral hepatitis, as well as people with chronic hepatitis. |
|
Betaine (Trimethylglycine)
(Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis) | 20 grams daily |  [2 stars] Supplementing with zinc (in the form of a zinc complex of L-carnosine) enhanced the response to interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C in a preliminary trial. |
|
Cordyceps | 3 to 4.5 grams twice per day | [2 stars] Cordyceps has repeatedly been shown effective in trials at improving liver and immune function in people with chronic hepatitis B, including those with cirrhosis. |
|
Licorice Intravenous | Take under medical supervision: 2.5 grams licorice three times per day providing 750 mg glycyrrhizin | [2 stars] One of the active constituents in licorice, glycyrrhizin, has been used to some benefit in Japan as an injected therapy for hepatitis B and C. |
|
Milk Thistle | 420 mg of silymarin daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with milk thistle may support the liver. |
|
Peony | 1 to 3 grams three times per day | [2 stars] Red peony root has been shown to be helpful for people with viral hepatitis. |
|
Phyllanthus | 900 to 2,700 mg daily | [2 stars] Taking the herb phyllanthus may be beneficial for people with hepatitis B. |
|
SAMe
(Cholestasis) | 1,600 mg daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with SAMe may help resolve blocked bile flow. |
|
Sho-Saiko-To (Bupleurum, Peony, Pinellia, Cassia, Ginger, Jujube, Asian Ginseng, Asian Scullcap, and Licorice) | Take 2.5 grams of sho-saiko-to three times per day | [2 stars] Trials have shown that the bupleurum-containing formula sho-saiko-to can help reduce symptoms and blood liver enzyme levels in people with chronic active viral hepatitis. |
|
Thymus Extracts | 200 mg of crude extracts or 40 mg purified proteins three times per day | [2 stars] Proteins from the thymus gland, an important part of the immune system, may have a beneficial effect in people with chronic hepatitis B and C. |
|
Vitamin B1 | 100 mg daily | [2 stars] In a preliminary report, three patients with chronic hepatitis B had an improvement in the severity of their hepatitis after supplementing with thiamine (vitamin B1). |
|
Vitamin B12
(Hepatitis C) | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] In one study, the addition of vitamin B12 injections to antiviral medications increased the proportion of patients in whom the hepatitis C virus was cleared from the body. |
|
Zinc
(Hepatitis C) | Take zinc L-carnosine supplying 17 mg zinc twice per day | [2 stars] In a preliminary trial, supplementing with betaine improved signs of liver inflammation in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a type of liver inflammation. |
|
Açaí | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Açaí root tea has been used as a traditional remedy for hepatitis. |
|
Alpha-Lipoic Acid | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In one trial, a combination of alpha lipoic acid, silymarin, and selenium led to significant improvements in liver function and overall health in people with hepatitis C. |
|
Andrographis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Andrographis, a traditional Indian herb, has been shown to help people with chronic viral hepatitis. |
|
Astragalus | 2.5 grams licorice three times per day providing 750 mg glycyrrhizin, taken under the supervision of a doctor | [1 star] Early clinical trials in China suggest astragalus root might benefit people with chronic viral hepatitis. |
|
Chinese Scullcap | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Chinese skullcap may be useful for liver infections. |
|
Lecithin (Phosphatidyl Choline) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Taking phosphatidylcholine (found in lecithin) was found to be beneficial in one study of people with chronic hepatitis B. |
|
Licorice Oral | 200 mg of crude extracts or 40 mg purified proteins three times per day | [1 star] One of the active constituents in licorice, glycyrrhizin, may be helpful for people with acute and chronic viral hepatitis. |
|
Picrorhiza | 1,600 mg daily | [1 star] A series of cases of acute viral hepatitis were reported by one group in India, showing picrorhiza, combined with a variety of minerals, to be helpful in hastening recovery. |
|
Reishi | Take zinc L-carnosine supplying 17 mg zinc twice daily | [1 star] The mushroom reishi appears to be effective in treating chronic hepatitis B, according to preliminary research. |
|
Schisandra | 420 mg of silymarin per day | [1 star] Compounds called lignans in schisandra appear to promote regeneration of liver tissue that has been damaged by harmful influences, such as hepatitis viruses or alcohol. |
|
Selenium | 100 mg per | [1 star] In one trial, a combination of alpha lipoic acid, silymarin, and selenium led to significant improvements in liver function and overall health in people with hepatitis C. |
|
Shiitake | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] One study found that shiitake formulations containing Lentinus edodes mycelium may help decrease blood markers of liver inflammation |
|
Vitamin C | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin C may be efffective at preventing hepatitis infection in people receiving blood transfusions and at treating viral hepatitis. |
|
Vitamin D
(Hepatitis C) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In a study of people with hepatitis C who were being treated with standard medication, vitamin D supplementation increased the proportion of patients who had undetectable levels of the virus after 24 weeks of treatment. |
|
Vitamin E | 900 to 2,700 mg per day | [1 star] Some trials have shown vitamin E to be helpful in treating hepatitis B and to reduce liver damage in people with hepatitis C. |
|
Whey Protein | 3 to 4.5 grams twice per day | [1 star] In one trial, supplementing with whey protein improved blood measures of liver dysfunction in people with hepatitis B. |
|
