Hello dr....I'm trying to find information (including any new books) on diet and nutrition for coinfected persons. I have HepC but had to stop the combination Rebetron treatment for now because of depression (also had severe side effects...but dr wants me to start again in about 6 months because i was responding). I've never been on HIV meds (cd4 has always been in the 500's except in the middle of hepC therapy dropped to 300...now back in 500's. My hiv vl started out at 19,500...now is 286...I tested + for both viruses 4/99). I'm somewhat confused on what i should be doing for my diet and nutrition because of coinfection. It seems that recommendations for hiv nutrition/diet conflicts with hepC recommendations (I've got liver fibrosis and in the middle of stage 3). I'm confused on what i should be eating/not eating with the liver damage and the hiv. Can you offer some help? thanks, robert

Dear Robert,

There is really no magic in treating liver disease. The main thing is no alcohol and a well balanced diet. You don't have to worry about too much protein as you may have heard as long as you are not yellow. There are no foods that "stress" the liver, only alcohol does that. So you can eat your HIV diet and don't worry about the liver as long as you are taking care of yourself generally. It sounds like you should be treated again for your hepatitis. Antidepressants work well and you should consider taking them before starting again. By the fall there will be pegylated interferon trials going on, which will be much easier to take. Good Luck! Douglas T. Dieterich, M.D.