The advantages of drinking mineral water in the rehabilitation of patients with viral hepatitis C with accompanying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after suffering from COVID-19.

Introduction and objective: Past COVID-19 significantly worsens Chronic viral hepatitis C patients with concomitant NAFLD. The aim of the study was to assess effectiveness of including mineral water in the rehabilitation complex in patients with chronic hepatitis C with concomitant non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who contracted COVID-19.

Material and methods: 71 patients with chronic hepatitis C with concomitant NAFLD wo contracted COVID-19 were examined. Group I (control) - 39 patients prescribed dietary nutrition and exercise therapy. Group II (main) - 32 patients, in addition to the above, received packaged 'Shayanskaya' mineral water. Methodology comprised anamnestic, anthropometric and clinical, general clinical, biochemical, serological, and molecular genetic (markers of hepatitis C virus, HCV RNA PCR (qualitative and quantitative determination, genotyping), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ultrasonographic examination of digestive organs, and statistical methods.

Results: Due to the treatment, there were significant improvements in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as well as the cytokine profile.

Conclusions: The effectiveness was established of the use of silicon low-mineralized bicarbonate sodium mineral water in the complex rehabilitation of patients with chronic hepatitis C and suputor NAFLD after contracted COVID-19. There was a significant improvement in the clinical course of the disease and improvement in the functional state of the liver.