Thiamine as therapy for chronic hepatitis B

Based on a review of current studies, U.S. government researchers say thiamine, one of the B vitamins could be a cost-effective treatment alternative for chronic hepatitis B patients, reports Health World Online. "Chronic hepatitis B is an international health concern that causes cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure, and death,"​ A.E. Wallace and co-author of the review said in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Current therapies for chronic hepatitis B are costly and come with side effects. If effective, thiamine is a cheaper alternative that would provide numerous advantages to a large number of patients, according to the researchers, who work at the Veterans Administration Medical Centre in White River Junction, US. According to some studies, thiamine deficiency could be a cause of disease processes in chronic hepatitis B. Wallace's team examined three case studies that reported on the effect of daily thiamine supplementation on changes in liver enzyme levels called aminotransferases. These enzymes are used to assess virus status in viral hepatitis patients. "In each case study, thiamine administration was associated with reduction in aminotransferase levels and the fall of HBV DNA to undetectable levels... If proven effective in reducing liver damage or inducing remission of the hepatitis B virus in larger trials, thiamine will offer obvious advantages over the current treatments for chronic viral hepatitis B infection,"​ researchers said. Source: Health World Online​