Pilot Comparison of Standard Antiviral Therapy With and Without 12 Weeks of Betaine in Genotype 1 Naive Patients

Summary

The primary purpose of the study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C using peginterferon alpha-2a (Pegasys) and ribavirin (Copegus) to those same medications plus a dietary supplement called betaine when added for the first 12 weeks of treatment. Peginterferon alpha-2a (Pegasys) and ribavirin (Copegus) are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Betaine is a dietary supplement and occurs naturally in the body. It is not a medication regulated by the FDA or an approved drug for chronic hepatitis C.

Timeline

Start

2008-04-01

Primary completion

2010-03-04

Completion

2010-03-04

Publications

• Background Abdelmalek MF, Angulo P, Jorgensen RA, Sylvestre PB, Lindor KD. Betaine, a promising new agent for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;96(9):2711-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.04129.x.
• Background Duong FH, Christen V, Filipowicz M, Heim MH. S-Adenosylmethionine and betaine correct hepatitis C virus induced inhibition of interferon signaling in vitro. Hepatology. 2006 Apr;43(4):796-806. doi: 10.1002/hep.21116.
• Results 8. Mukherjee S, Bernard T, Schafer D, et al. Impact of betaine on hepatic fibrosis and homocysteine in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a prospective cohort study [abstract]. Hepatology 2005; 42: 610A.

Drugs

Indications