Reducing Liver Enzymes in HIV/HCV Patients
October 4, 2013
A recent study has shown that patients diagnosed with HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) and HCV (Hepatitis C virus) who ate chocolate on a daily basis, and downed at least 3 cups of coffee each day, were found to have lower levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) as compared to patients who had fewer foods that had polyphenol in them.
Scientists came up with these results from 990 adult patients coinfected with HCV and HIV. They tried tossing in moderate red wine consumption into the analysis, but it did not make a significant change to the results. Also, tobacco use had no impact on either outcome. A combination indicator for polyphenol-rich food intake including both coffee and chocolate consumption was remarkably linked to risk reductions for high ALT and AST.
“Polyphenols contained in coffee, but also in cocoa, may contribute to decrease liver enzymes levels, but these results need to be confirmed by further experimental and observational research,” said researcher Patrizia Carrieri, PhD, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Marseilles. “The role that polyphenol intake or supplementation can play in liver disease and liver injury may be an interesting topic needing appropriate assessment in clinical research.”
Hearing stuff like this about chocolate makes me swear by it all the more. Isn’t it just too surreal to think that something that brings so much joy in our lives, and to our palates, also comes with significant health benefits that we all get to take advantage of, one way or another?
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