Autoimmune hepatitis*

Posted by luserm1 @luserm1, Sep 15, 2017

Is it beneficial to use turmeric for cirrhosis caused by autoimmune hepatitis?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

@punky1973

I'm not sure. I'm going to see him this Thursday. He said I just have to take some meds and it should go away. I could even post his response. I have done some research and found this is a very serious disease.

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@punky1973, 20 years ago, when I was in the process of being diagnosed with a liver disease, I was thought to have AIH (autoimmune hepatitis). In my situation, this was due to elevated liver function (LFT) that had been showing in my labwork, and some family autoimmune medical history. I was treated for AIH for a period of time, before my GI decided to send me to a liver specialist for a second opinion. I am happy that he did that because I did not have AIH, and the treatment for AIH would not have helped me.

I am interested because I care about what you learn about his diagnosis anf treatment. How was your appointment on Thursday? What did you find out?

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@johnbishop

Hello @luserm1 - Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad you found us. Connect is a good place to share your health concerns, ask questions and learn what others are doing for similar health concerns. I have no medical training or background but I do have an autoimmune disease - polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). I take turmeric supplements to help with the inflammation and think it helps some. When I'm trying to find as much out as I can about a supplement, drug or treatment I will use Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) which is great for finding research information. I did a search on your question - Is it beneficial to use turmeric for cirrhosis caused by autoimmune hepatitis? and it returned quite a few links that may be of interest to you.

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Is+it+beneficial+to+use+turmeric+for+cirrhosis+caused+by+autoimmune+hepatitis&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C24&as_sdtp=

Can you share a little information about yourself and what you are doing for treatment now? It might be helpful for other Connect members with similar health concerns.

John

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Hello John, I was just recently dx with autoimmune hepatitis? Type 1 no cirrhosis yet based on biopsy. On 50 mgs of pred and 100 mgs of imuran. Numbers are slowly dropping from hospital stay numbers which were very very elevated. Looking for the best way to use turmeric and diet to follow. What is your opinion? Drops, powder, pills for turmeric? What brand do you use? In addition, what diet do you feel has helped you with autoimmune hepatitis? I am doing gluten, wheat and dairy free diet at the moment. Eating wild salmon, quality chicken grass fed beef ...when i do eat meat. Use only almond milk. I am so confused. I get so many mixed reviews on what to eat. Maybe you can shed some light on what you have read or tried. Many thanks. Georgina

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@444

Hello John, I was just recently dx with autoimmune hepatitis? Type 1 no cirrhosis yet based on biopsy. On 50 mgs of pred and 100 mgs of imuran. Numbers are slowly dropping from hospital stay numbers which were very very elevated. Looking for the best way to use turmeric and diet to follow. What is your opinion? Drops, powder, pills for turmeric? What brand do you use? In addition, what diet do you feel has helped you with autoimmune hepatitis? I am doing gluten, wheat and dairy free diet at the moment. Eating wild salmon, quality chicken grass fed beef ...when i do eat meat. Use only almond milk. I am so confused. I get so many mixed reviews on what to eat. Maybe you can shed some light on what you have read or tried. Many thanks. Georgina

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Hello Georgina @444, Welcome to Connect. I don't have autoimmune hepatitis but do have other autoimmune diseases - polymyalgia rhematica for one and I also have small fiber peripheral neuropathy. Turmeric is one of the supplements I take to hopefully reduce inflammation. I have no medical training or background and can only share my experience with it. I take a liquid turmeric and have tried several brands. Qunol was the better tasting to me if that makes a difference. I recently switched to Turmeric Vitality brand which my wife says tastes like medicine which I think its because it contains ginger which has a zing to it. I get it from Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GPZNHKG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

Since you mentioned you have been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis I would highly suggest discussing any supplement you are taking with your doctor or pharmacist. I did find two articles that may provide some reasons not to use the supplement without first discussing it with your doctor or pharmacist.

Turmeric Induced Liver Injury: A Report of Two Cases
-- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crihep/2019/6741213/abs/

Considerations about turmeric-associated hepatotoxicity following a series of cases occurred in Italy: is turmeric really a new hepatotoxic substance? -- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crihep/2019/6741213/abs/

It sounds like you are already eating a healthy diet which is important. It can be confusing trying to figure what and what not to eat for different health conditions. What got me to thinking of eating healthier to help my autoimmune conditions and hopefully reduce some of the symptoms was reading a book by Dr. Terry Wahls - Wahls Protocol. She has an amazing story on how nutritional changes helped her reduce or eliminate most of the symptoms for her MS although it 's not a cure. You can read about her journey here - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/

Have you considered asking your doctor for a referral to a dietician specializing in your diagnosis?

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I just was diagnosed last week with AIH, started on budesonide 3mg 3 times a day. Wants to start me on Imuran soon at 50 mg. I do not want to take this pill cause of stressing over all the side effects. I want to be on the least side effect pill since I am the type of person that always get side effects because at my age of 55, I did not have any auto immune issues, not on any medications, no illness, always healthy with no issues at all. Liver enzymes were elevated when I went to the ER and I did that because of yellowing on my eyes, I knew it was a liver issue. Liver enzymes were under half of what they were before the hospital with out any meds before I started the budesonide. I am eating healthy, gluten free, dairy free lots of water. I am going to a natural doctor on the 7th for supplements to help me with all of this. Had liver biopsy last week and the worst part for me was getting the valium they sedated me with which took 4 days. They say genes and geographic location is main reasons why people get this. I looked up pollution in my county and they rate it as a D. I moved to this area 13 years ago, they say it takes someone to adjust to their environment 15 years, guess I should of moved long ago. But no one knows these things. Just letting everyone know my situation and advice on meds because I will not take the Imuran. Thank you all

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@loriak

I just was diagnosed last week with AIH, started on budesonide 3mg 3 times a day. Wants to start me on Imuran soon at 50 mg. I do not want to take this pill cause of stressing over all the side effects. I want to be on the least side effect pill since I am the type of person that always get side effects because at my age of 55, I did not have any auto immune issues, not on any medications, no illness, always healthy with no issues at all. Liver enzymes were elevated when I went to the ER and I did that because of yellowing on my eyes, I knew it was a liver issue. Liver enzymes were under half of what they were before the hospital with out any meds before I started the budesonide. I am eating healthy, gluten free, dairy free lots of water. I am going to a natural doctor on the 7th for supplements to help me with all of this. Had liver biopsy last week and the worst part for me was getting the valium they sedated me with which took 4 days. They say genes and geographic location is main reasons why people get this. I looked up pollution in my county and they rate it as a D. I moved to this area 13 years ago, they say it takes someone to adjust to their environment 15 years, guess I should of moved long ago. But no one knows these things. Just letting everyone know my situation and advice on meds because I will not take the Imuran. Thank you all

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Hi @loriak, Welcome to Connect. It's good to ask questions and do your own research to learn as much as you can about your condition. You may be right about the main reasons why people get AIH but I'm not sure there has been enough research to reach that conclusion according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/autoimmune-hepatitis/symptoms-causes

I'm tagging Rosemary @rosemarya who may have some thoughts or suggestions for you. Will you let us know how your appointment goes on the 7th with your natural doctor?

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@johnbishop

Hello Georgina @444, Welcome to Connect. I don't have autoimmune hepatitis but do have other autoimmune diseases - polymyalgia rhematica for one and I also have small fiber peripheral neuropathy. Turmeric is one of the supplements I take to hopefully reduce inflammation. I have no medical training or background and can only share my experience with it. I take a liquid turmeric and have tried several brands. Qunol was the better tasting to me if that makes a difference. I recently switched to Turmeric Vitality brand which my wife says tastes like medicine which I think its because it contains ginger which has a zing to it. I get it from Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GPZNHKG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

Since you mentioned you have been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis I would highly suggest discussing any supplement you are taking with your doctor or pharmacist. I did find two articles that may provide some reasons not to use the supplement without first discussing it with your doctor or pharmacist.

Turmeric Induced Liver Injury: A Report of Two Cases
-- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crihep/2019/6741213/abs/

Considerations about turmeric-associated hepatotoxicity following a series of cases occurred in Italy: is turmeric really a new hepatotoxic substance? -- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crihep/2019/6741213/abs/

It sounds like you are already eating a healthy diet which is important. It can be confusing trying to figure what and what not to eat for different health conditions. What got me to thinking of eating healthier to help my autoimmune conditions and hopefully reduce some of the symptoms was reading a book by Dr. Terry Wahls - Wahls Protocol. She has an amazing story on how nutritional changes helped her reduce or eliminate most of the symptoms for her MS although it 's not a cure. You can read about her journey here - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/

Have you considered asking your doctor for a referral to a dietician specializing in your diagnosis?

Jump to this post

Hello John, Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to me. It was very helpful. I have an appointment with my Liver spec soon and will ask more about the diet more. I am keeping a food journal and plan to read about Dr. Wahls diet. Georgina

REPLY
@johnbishop

Hi @loriak, Welcome to Connect. It's good to ask questions and do your own research to learn as much as you can about your condition. You may be right about the main reasons why people get AIH but I'm not sure there has been enough research to reach that conclusion according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/autoimmune-hepatitis/symptoms-causes

I'm tagging Rosemary @rosemarya who may have some thoughts or suggestions for you. Will you let us know how your appointment goes on the 7th with your natural doctor?

Jump to this post

Yes I will.

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@loriak

I just was diagnosed last week with AIH, started on budesonide 3mg 3 times a day. Wants to start me on Imuran soon at 50 mg. I do not want to take this pill cause of stressing over all the side effects. I want to be on the least side effect pill since I am the type of person that always get side effects because at my age of 55, I did not have any auto immune issues, not on any medications, no illness, always healthy with no issues at all. Liver enzymes were elevated when I went to the ER and I did that because of yellowing on my eyes, I knew it was a liver issue. Liver enzymes were under half of what they were before the hospital with out any meds before I started the budesonide. I am eating healthy, gluten free, dairy free lots of water. I am going to a natural doctor on the 7th for supplements to help me with all of this. Had liver biopsy last week and the worst part for me was getting the valium they sedated me with which took 4 days. They say genes and geographic location is main reasons why people get this. I looked up pollution in my county and they rate it as a D. I moved to this area 13 years ago, they say it takes someone to adjust to their environment 15 years, guess I should of moved long ago. But no one knows these things. Just letting everyone know my situation and advice on meds because I will not take the Imuran. Thank you all

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@loriak Hello and welcome to Connect from me, too. I don’t have autoimmune hepatitis but I do have an autoimmune disease. I went from being a healthy, active 70yr old to a very slowed down version of my old self. I get an infusion of rituximab twice yearly and have been on prednisone forever. I, too, was a nervous wreck about all the drugs until I realized I needed to take the drug or I would die. 😐 The only side effect I’ve noticed from the rituximab (a chemotherapy drug) is my hair is curly! Have you been able to talk with your doctor about your reluctance? What were you told?
P.S. Please check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Some can be hard on the liver. Please stay in touch

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@444

Hello John, Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to me. It was very helpful. I have an appointment with my Liver spec soon and will ask more about the diet more. I am keeping a food journal and plan to read about Dr. Wahls diet. Georgina

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@444, I am a liver and kidney transplant recipient. I was once on prednisone and imuran when my GI thought I had AIH. Are you experiencing any symptoms?
Keeping a food journal sounds like a good thing. It could prove helpful at your next appointmtnet with the liver specialist. If I might offer a suggestion- if you are experiencing symptoms, note them, too.
Please consult with the liver specialist before you introduce any over the counter meds or supplements to your diet.

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Has anyone been told they had Autoimmune Hepatitis

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