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Diet for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare but serious condition. When left untreated, complete liver failure can occur. Although diet has not been shown to be particularly effective as a treatment strategy, maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding alcohol can protect the health of your liver both during and after treatment.

  1. Understanding the Disease

    • Autoimmune hepatitis is a condition in which the immune system attacks the liver. Doctors are not sure what causes the immune system to behave in this way, but according to the Mayo Clinic, it appears that viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr, hepatitis A and B and measles, may be a trigger. Medications that harm the liver, including acetaminophen, and genetic predisposition may also play a role. There are two types of autoimmune hepatitis. Type I, or classic, autoimmune hepatitis occurs mainly in young women. Type II affects mainly young girls. Both types are most common in people with other autoimmune diseases.

    Traditional Treatment

    • Prednisone is the main treatment for autoimmune hepatitis. A corticosteroid, prednisone treats autoimmune hepatitis by suppressing the activity of the immune system. When suppressed, the immune system should slow its attack on the liver. Prednisone causes serious side effects, including high blood pressure, increased risk of infection, thinning hair and diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic, because these side effects are potentially serious, sometimes another immunosuppressant drug called Imuran is used alongside prednisone so that the dosage of prednisone can be reduced. If these first-line treatments do not work, other immunosuppressant drugs may be tried. The treatment of last resort is a liver transplant.

    Diet and Treatment

    • According to Patient UK, diet has not been shown to have an impact on autoimmune hepatitis treatment. Patients are advised to simply stick to a healthy diet. Dr. Edward L. Krawitt of the University of Vermont College of Medicine recommends that patients strive for a healthy weight, as being overweight makes the risk of fatty liver disease increase, which in turn can cause the autoimmune hepatitis to become worse. One dietary factor to keep in mind is alcohol consumption. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis should not drink. Alcohol can lead to liver damage, which can worsen the disease. According to Dr. Krawitt, all types of alcohol are equally dangerous and should be avoided.

    Getting Advice

    • Although diet has not been shown to have any impact on autoimmune hepatitis, your doctor can work with you to determine the best eating plan for you to follow for your health. Getting the right balance of nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight will put less stress on your liver so that the hepatitis is easier to treat.

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