Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is a serious public health problem that affects people of all ages in the United States and around the world. In 2001, an estimated 78,000 people contracted HBV infection in the United States. The virus is highly infectious and attacks the liver. It can lead to severe illness, liver damage, and in some cases, death.

The best way to be protected from hepatitis B is to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, a vaccine used in the U.S. for more than two decades and proven safe and effective.

About 5% of people in the U.S. will get infected with HBV sometime during their lives. If you engage in certain behaviors, your risk may be much higher. You may be at risk if you:

• have a job that exposes you to human blood
  
• share a household with someone who has lifelong HBV infection
  
• inject drugs
  
• have sex with a person infected with HBV
  
• have sex with more than one partner during a six-month period
  
• received blood transfusions in the past before excellent blood testing was available (1975)
  
• are a person whose parents were born in Asia, Africa, the Amazon Basin in South America, the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East
  
• were born in an area listed above
  
• were adopted from an area listed above
  
• are an Alaska native
  
• have hemophilia
  
• are a patient or worker in an institution for the developmentally disabled
  
• are an inmate of a long-term correctional facility
  
• travel internationally to areas with a high prevalence of hepatitis B
  

The largest outbreak of hepatitis B in the U.S. occurred in 1942 in military personnel who were given vaccine to protect them from yellow fever. It was unknown at the time that this vaccine contained a human blood component that was contaminated with HBV. The outbreak caused 28,585 cases of hepatitis B with jaundice.

HBV is found in blood and certain body fluids—such as serum, semen, vaginal secretions—of people infected with HBV. HBV is not found in sweat, tears, urine, or respiratory secretions. Contact with even small amounts of infected blood can cause infection.

Hepatitis B virus can be spread by:

• unprotected sex
  
• injecting drug use
  
• an infected mother to her child during birth
  
• contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
  
• human bites
  
• sharing a household with a chronically infected person
  
• sharing items such as razors, toothbrushes, or washcloths
  
• pre-chewing food for babies or sharing chewing gum
  
• using unsterilized needles in ear or body piercing, tattooing, or acupuncture
  
• using the same immunization needle on more than one person
  

Hepatitis B virus IS NOT spread by:

• casual contact like holding hands
  
• eating food prepared by an infected person
  
• kissing or hugging
  
• sharing silverware, plates, or cups
  
• visiting an infected person's home
  
• sneezing or coughing
  

Nearly 95% of adults recover after several months. They clear the infection from their bodies and become immune. This means they won't get infected with HBV again. They are no longer contagious and cannot pass HBV on to others.

Unfortunately, of those who become newly infected with HBV, about 5% of adults and up to 90% of children under age 5 are unable to clear the infection from their bodies; they become chronically infected.

People who do not recover from HBV infection are chronically infected, and there are over one million chronically infected people in the United States today. A chronically infected person is someone who has had HBV in her/his blood for more than six months. While approximately 5% of adults who acquire HBV infection become chronically infected, children less than five years of age have a greater risk. The younger the child is at the time of infection, the greater the risk that the child will have a lifelong infection. Many babies born to chronically infected mothers will also become chronically infected with HBV unless the babies are given two shots in the hospital and at least two more during the 6 months after birth to protect them from the infection.

A chronically infected person usually has no signs or symptoms of HBV infection but remains infected for years or for a lifetime and is capable of passing HBV on to others. Sometimes chronically infected people will spontaneously clear the infection from their bodies, but most will not. Although most chronically infected people have no serious problems with hepatitis B and lead normal, healthy lives, some develop liver problems later. Chronically infected people are at significantly higher risk than the general population for liver failure or liver cancer.

Most people who get HBV infection as babies or children don't look or feel sick at all. Similarly, almost half of adults who get infected don't have any symptoms or signs of the disease. If people do have signs or symptoms, they may experience any or all of the following:

• loss of appetite
  
• yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
  
• nausea, vomiting
  
• fever
  
• weakness, tiredness, inability to work for weeks or months
  
• abdominal pain and/or joint pain
  
• dark urine
  

Many people don't know when or how they acquired the infection. When they get the blood test results indicating they've been infected with HBV, they are taken by surprise. Studies have demonstrated that 30—40% of people who acquire HBV infection are unable to identify their own risk factors explaining why they have the disease.

Hepatitis B is caused by a highly infectious virus that attacks the liver and can lead to severe illness, liver damage, and in some cases, death.

The only way to know if you are currently infected with HBV, have recovered, are chronically infected, or are susceptible, is by having blood tests. The three standard blood tests are the following:

HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen): when this is "positive" or "reactive," it means the person is currently infected with HBV and is able to pass the infection on to others.

Anti-HBc [or HBc-Ab] (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen): when this is "positive" or "reactive" it may mean the person has had contact with HBV. This is a very complicated test to explain because the "anti-HBc" could possibly be a "false-positive" test result. The interpretation of this positive test usually depends on the results of the other two blood tests. Blood banks routinely run an "anti-HBc," but they do not routinely run an "anti-HBs."

Anti-HBs [or HBs-Ab] (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen): when this is "positive" or "reactive," it means the person is immune to HBV infection, either from vaccination or from past infection. If the person was previously infected, s/he cannot pass the disease on to others. (To repeat, this test is not routinely done by blood banks.)

• Conventional Treatments
  

A person with HBV infection should see a physician knowledgeable about the management of liver disease every 6-12 months. The physician will do blood tests to check the health of the liver as well as test for evidence of liver cancer. It is best for chronically infected people to avoid alcohol because alcohol can injure the liver. Additionally, your physician should know about all the medicines you are taking, even over-the-counter drugs, because some medicines can hurt the liver. If there are any liver test abnormalities, consultation with a liver specialist regarding your need for further testing and treatment is important.

If your physician tells you your liver disease has progressed, here are some extra precautions you should take:

• Get a yearly influenza vaccination. Patients with severe liver disease (cirrhosis) should also receive pneumococcal vaccine.
  
• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A. Hepatitis A can further damage your liver.
  
• Don't eat raw oysters. They may carry the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, which can cause serious blood infections in people with liver disease. Approximately 40% of people with this blood infection die.
  

As of this writing, there are three FDA-approved medications (interferon, lamivudine, and adefovir) that can help a person who is already infected with HBV. Their use is reserved for people who have certain blood test abnormalities. Be sure to ask your doctor if you are a candidate for treatment or if you might benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial. Researchers continue to seek additional cures for hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccines may be considered to prevent one from getting the disease. Check with your clinic first. Children's health insurance often covers the cost of this vaccine since it is routinely recommended for all U.S. children. If your child is uninsured, ask your local health department for assistance. For adults, contact your health provider first to find out if the vaccine is covered under your health plan. If you are uninsured, call your local health department for advice.

Usually three shots are needed for the best protection against HBV, but some protection is provided from receiving as little as one dose. The shots are usually given on a schedule of 0, 1, and 6 months, but there is great flexibility in the timing of these injections. As with all other vaccines, if you fall behind on the schedule, you just continue from where you left off. Hepatitis B shots will not help or cure a person who is already infected with the hepatitis B virus.

If you are in a risk group for hepatitis B, get vaccinated! All people in risk groups should protect themselves from HBV infection. Every day you delay getting vaccinated increases your chances of getting this highly contagious liver disease. The problems caused by hepatitis B—liver cancer and liver failure—are too great. See your doctor or visit your health department.

• Alternative/Complementary Treatments
  

Fighting disease is a battle. Some turn to strictly alternative approaches in anguish when conventional treatments are exhausted. However, “alternative” treatments when used in addition to conventional medicine are often referred to as “complementary”. Complementary medicine is a more balanced approach in the effort to treat disease and is recommended because it allows one to take advantage of all options that are available.

It should be noted that because alternative or natural remedies are not regulated, many medical professionals advise against them because of the lack of pier studies and uncertainty of the level of quality control. In addition, they advise that any substance that can affect the body's chemistry can, like any drug, produce side effects that may be harmful. In other words, herbal remedies should be viewed as symptom treating aids, just as pharmaceutical drugs are.

However, there is hope. A relatively new science, called Glycobiology, now offers revolutionary and exciting options. Rather than taking the approach of treating a disease or even a symptom, Glycobiology addresses the nutritional requirement at the cellular level. It is believed that:

"Glycobiology is the last scientific frontier to be conquered. It is now understood that there is a 'sugar code' in biological structures that relates to both health and disease. Our ability to define the factors that regulate normal glycosylation of proteins and lipids, resulting in normal structures and functions, and those that cause disruption of normal sugar attachments will be important in understanding disease processes and their management.

Many investigative approaches are being used to study these structure-function relationships and their biological consequences. These include novel analytical techniques to investigate chemical and 3-dimensional structures, proteomics to understand the relationship between glycosylation change and disease, model living systems in which to study the impact of glycosylation, and new enzyme and glycotherapeutic techniques to alter abnormal structures.

Most major diseases that afflict mankind (e.g., cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative diseases) directly involve glycoconjugates. The ultimate goal is to develop the science of glycobiology so that it can have a significant impact on our ability to define and support health, and to diagnose and manage disease."
John S. Axford, BS, MD, FRCP

In 1994, legislation was passed that enabled millions of Americans to enjoy access to safe, effective and affordable dietary supplements. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate) revealed the following:

• The importance of nutrition and the benefits of dietary supplements to health promotion and disease prevention have been documented increasingly in scientific studies;
  
• There is a link between the ingestion of certain nutrients or dietary supplements and the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis; and
  
• Clinical research has shown that several chronic diseases can be prevented simply with a healthful diet, such as a diet that is low in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, with a high proportion of plant-based foods;
  

I have seen first hand the power and benefits of Glycobiology as it relates to my wife LaDonna and her battle and victory against liver disease. Her turnaround validates the findings that Congress and many scientists in the field of Glycobiology have determined; we must not underestimate the importance of nutrition. A category of specific nutrients led us to find a specific nutritional therapy, which proved very positive. These particular nutrients are called glyconutrients. More specific information on these and other nutritional building blocks associated with this science may be found here.

A, B and C are the most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States. Blood testing can help a physician determine which form of hepatitis a patient has. Left untreated, viral hepatitis can lead to serious health disorders, and even death.

Each year, approximately 5,000 people in the U.S. die of HBV-related liver failure and another 1,500 die from HBV-related liver cancer. HBV infection is the most common cause of liver cancer worldwide and ranks second only to cigarettes as the world's leading cause of cancer.

Hepatitis B virus can cause a serious form of hepatitis. This disease is much more prevalent than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. An estimated 1.2 million Americans are currently chronic carriers of HBV. Hepatitis B may develop into a chronic disease (which means lasting more than 6 months) in up to 10% of the 200,000 newly infected people each year. If left untreated, the risk of developing cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer is increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Pregnant women who are infected with HBV can transmit the disease to their babies. Many of these babies develop lifelong HBV infections, and up to 25% will develop liver failure or liver cancer later in life. All pregnant women should be tested early in pregnancy to determine if they are infected with HBV. If the blood test is positive, the baby should be vaccinated at birth with two shots, one of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and one of hepatitis B vaccine. The infant will need at least two additional doses of hepatitis B vaccine by 6 months of age.

The vaccine can provide protection in 90–95% of healthy young adults. The vaccine can be given safely to infants, children, and adults usually in three doses over an approximate 6-month period. Even pregnant women can be safely given these shots if their risk factors warrant it. Hepatitis B shots are very safe, and side effects are rare. Hepatitis B vaccine is our first vaccine that prevents cancer—liver cancer.

In the U.S., hepatitis B shots are routinely recommended for all children 0–18 years of age. For babies, the first hepatitis B shot is recommended to be given in the hospital at birth. Older children and teens should be vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. Any adult who is at risk for HBV infection should start the vaccine series immediately.

On a more personal note...

In June of 2004, my wife LaDonna was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis after blood tests,liver scan, and a liver biopsy revealed 85% damage. Her doctor recommended that she should consider a liver transplant as soon as possible.

The success of her treatment came as a result depending less and less on drugs and more and more on nutrition. The specific category of nutrition that brought about this success is glyconutrients.

It is clear that autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis B are completely distinct conditions, and there is no evidence of a link between infection with the HBV and autoimmune hepatitis. However, just as autoimmune hepatitis presents chronic fatigue (as my wife LaDonna can attest), many with HBV begin to feel a similar chronic fatigue that is commonly associated with this particular disease.

While there are no guarantees, it is possible that LaDonna's treatment plan that led to a complete reversal of her autoimmune hepatitis could possibly offer similar hope for those suffering with HBV. The same glyconutrient therapy that brought about a reduction of chronic fatigue and a return of her energy level could conceivably bring about improved energy levels and improved liver enzymes levels in those afflicted with HBV. Just as her immune system was optimized, an optimized immune system in a patient with HBV could give the body a better chance of dealing with this virus.

While hepatitis B is caused from a different virus than that of hepatitis C, this fact is still worth noting. In a Clinical Study of 8 HCV-Positive Patients who were given natural Glyconutrient supplements, published in the peer-reviewed Medical Journal "Proceedings of the Fisher Institute For Medical Research", 88% showed improvements in ALT and/or AST, the Liver Enzyme markers which characteristically test abnormal for HCV patients. In addition, 50% of the patients showed marked improvement in fatigue.

Since this study was run, a higher potency Glyconutrient formulation has been developed and is the one that LaDonna used.

We invite you to stay and browse through the other information found on our site. Or perhaps you'd like to speak with us right away, to learn more about glyconutrients and the specifics of LaDonna's nutritritional therapy. Maybe you would like to explore if this therapy might be useful for other disease concerns. If so, please provide an e-mail address in the form below and we would be happy to get back to you with contact information so that we could make arrangements to speak privately with you at your convenience. Important: Please be sure that there are no typos in your e-mail address so that we will be successful in contacting you.

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This web site is here for general purposes only. Nothing on it should be considered as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your own medical doctor. Some information you read on this site may be inappropriate for your own situation, or you may interpret or misinterpret something in a way that could be distressing or harmful to you. For advice about your own situation, ask your doctor!