Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients, age >18 y
• Established hepatitis C infection as confirmed by positive serology and positive hepatitis C RNA in serum
• Convincing evidence of negligible alcohol consumption (<20g of ethanol per day) obtained from a detailed history, confirmed by at least one close relative
• Absence of any other possible cause for liver dysfunction.
• Undergoing routing liver biopsy (usually pre-treatment)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Findings highly suggestive of liver disease of other etiology (e.g. other viral hepatitis, auto-immune chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and genetic liver diseases such as hemochromatosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Wilsons disease and biliary obstruction)
• Anticipated need for liver transplantation in one year or complications of liver disease such as recurrent variceal bleeding, spontaneous porto- systemic encephalopathy, resistant ascites or bacterial peritonitis
• Concurrent medical illnesses contraindicating a liver biopsy (history of unexplained bleeding, hemophilia or abnormal coagulation results as per routine laboratory work-up or other reasons judged by the hepatologist to contraindicate a percutaneous liver biopsy)
• Medications known to precipitate steatohepatitis (corticosteroids, high dose estrogens, methotrexate, amiodarone, calcium channel blockers, sulfasalazine or cloxacillin) in the 6 months prior to entry
• Antioxidant vitamin or n-3 supplementation, ursodeoxycholic acid or any other experimental drug in the 6 months prior to study entry
• Pregnant or lactating