Insulin Resistance Lowers the Healing Chances of Hepatitis C

Spanish scientists have found an important antagonist of Hepatitis C infections, reports Joaquín Mayordomo (El País, 24.10.2006). Manuel Romero Gómez first discovered that insulin resistance in HCV patients halves the power of interferon and ribavirin medication. That means vice versa that responders show less often impaired insulin production than non-responders. Gómez also knows now why it is like that: Impaired insulin levels trigger the production of infection factors like TNF what damages the liver and counteracts to the pharmaceuticals. The implication of this work: "Patients should reduce their weight to lower the insulin resistance. Than the medication will be more succesful," says Gómez.