In rare cases, green tea extract may cause an increase in these enzymes or of acute liver injury. In these cases, stopping green tea extract consumption typically induced liver recovery. A systematic review suggests that green tea effects may depend on the health status of the individual, offering moderate benefits to people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD but increasing liver enzymes in people without NAFLD.

A randomized clinical trial found that milligrams mg of garlic powder over 15 weeks significantly improved fat-build ups and comorbidity risk in people with NAFLD. A population study of adults in China suggests that raw garlic consumption may also reduce the risk of liver cancer.

According to a systematic review from , garlic supplementation may also lower AST levels but does not impact ALT levels. However, they highlight that more research is necessary to confirm this effect. Many dark berries — including blueberries , raspberries , and cranberries — contain antioxidants called polyphenols , which may help protect the liver from damage.

Several animal studies have investigated the effect of berries on the liver. For example, a study suggests that blueberry and cranberry polyphenols reduced liver damage in rats. A study suggests that blueberries reduced liver fibrosis in rats, lowering the rate of liver weight gain and liver enzyme activity.

A study also suggests that blueberries may help to manage age-related liver disease and dysfunction in rats. However, further research is necessary to determine the effect of berry polyphenols on the liver in humans. A study suggests a compound in grape skin and seeds alleviates symptoms of severe liver problems in rats, including liver enlargement, inflammation, and fat buildups.

Eating whole, seeded grapes is a simple way to add these compounds to the diet. A grape seed extract supplement may also provide antioxidants. Grapefruit contains two primary antioxidants: naringin and naringenin.

These may help protect the liver from injury by reducing inflammation and protecting the liver cells. A study suggests that naringin may protect against alcohol-induced liver steatosis by reducing oxidative stress. However, some medications can interact with grapefruit, so people should check with a doctor before adding grapefruit or grapefruit juice to their diet.

The fruit and juice of the prickly pear may also be beneficial to liver health. A article suggests that prickly pear extracts show beneficial effects on the liver in animal studies.

However, more research is necessary to determine the bioactive compound that causes these effects, the most appropriate dose, and whether the effects apply to human models. A review associates plant-based diets with a lower risk of NAFLD and liver fat content.

Plant foods they group as healthful include:. Consuming fatty fish and fish oil supplements may help reduce the impact of conditions such as NAFLD. A population-based cohort study also associates regular fish oil supplementation with lower risks of liver cancer.

Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are the good fats that help reduce inflammation. These fats may be especially helpful in the liver, as they appear to prevent the buildup of excess fats and maintain enzyme levels in the liver.

Eating nuts may be another simple way to keep the liver healthy and protect against NAFLD. Nuts generally contain unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E , and antioxidants.

These compounds may help prevent NAFLD and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Eating too much fat is not good for the liver, but some fats may help it. A study suggests olive oil, as part of the Mediterranean diet , may help reduce oxidative stress and improve liver function.

This is due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in the oil. In general, doctors will recommend a balanced diet for overall health.

Researchers believe that dandelion may reduce oxidative stress and reduce various liver injury biomarkers like AST, ALT, and bilirubin. In animal research, dandelion has also been found to reduce liver fibrosis scarring.

This is thought to be due to the antioxidant activity of dandelion. Dandelion is a common herb in supplements for liver health. However, clinical trials are required to confirm its benefits in humans. Chanca piedra Phyllanthus niruri is an herb commonly used in Ayurveda and other types of traditional medicine to treat liver disease.

It is known to contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances that may benefit liver health. Researchers from one study looked at the effects of chanca piedra on people with alcoholic hepatitis. In the small study, participants were randomized to take either a placebo or chanca piedra for four weeks.

Chanca piedra was found to have only slight beneficial effects on AST and ALT levels. However, study participants who took chanca piedra did have significant increases in total antioxidant levels compared to those who took the placebo.

Vitamins and minerals are considered micronutrients because you need them in small amounts every day. You can get micronutrients from food or dietary supplements, although a food-first approach is recommended.

Taking certain vitamins may improve your liver health, especially if deficiencies are present. Some minerals may also be able to help. A deficiency in choline may lead to MASLD. This is because choline is needed to carry fat away from the liver. High fat accumulation in the liver can cause MASLD.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey NHANES , people who get enough choline from their diet have a lower risk of developing MASLD. There's not a clear understanding of how choline supplementation may be used to treat or prevent MASLD.

More research is needed. There is evidence that using vitamin C supplements can improve liver health, especially in people with liver disease. One study compared vitamin C supplementation to a placebo in people with hepatitis C.

At the end of the one-month study, participants who used vitamin C had significant improvements in liver enzymes compared to those who took the placebo.

These effects were thought to be caused by the ability of vitamin C to reduce oxidative stress. Another study compared varying doses of vitamin C in patients with MASLD. In the study, participants took milligrams mg , 1, mg, or 2, mg per day of vitamin C for 12 weeks.

Researchers noted positive effects of all three doses of vitamin C for glucose metabolism and overall liver health, but the 1, mg per day dose appeared to be the most beneficial. Deficiencies in the mineral zinc are often present in people with various types of liver disease.

Although more research is needed, zinc supplementation has shown promise as a treatment for liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy , which causes brain function loss. Researchers have looked at the long-term use of zinc supplements as a possible way to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma HCC , a common liver cancer.

In one study, zinc supplementation for at least six months was correlated with lower incidences of liver cirrhosis and HCC in people with chronic liver diseases.

Compared to people with chronic liver disease who didn't use zinc supplements, those who did maintained liver function over three years. Research shows that a deficiency in selenium is likely in people with chronic liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

Correcting a selenium deficiency may help improve symptoms and outcomes of these and other types of liver disease, according to studies.

Selenium supplements may also help people with MASLD. However, the relationship between selenium and MASLD is not well understood. Experimental studies show that selenium may reduce fat accumulation in the liver by modulating certain enzymes. Selenium also acts as an antioxidant, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver.

More research is needed to determine if and how selenium supplements may improve MASLD and other liver diseases. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that may play a role in the treatment and management of MASLD and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis MASH , which was formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis NASH.

A systematic review and meta-analysis that included 15 human trials found that vitamin E supplementation improved liver enzymes ALT and AST and fibrosis in both adults and children with MASLD.

However, some studies included in the review concluded that vitamin E was not superior to other measures in improving MASLD or MASH. A different review found similar results, concluding that vitamin E supplementation may improve ALT and AST levels, as well as inflammation and fat accumulation in the livers of people with MASLD.

Researchers also concluded that vitamin E may be a useful complementary treatment for MASLD. Most healthy people do not need to take a liver health supplement.

For the most part, studies on supplements for liver health have concluded that certain herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients may be beneficial if you have liver disease.

However, there isn't strong evidence that supplements are beneficial or necessary if your liver is healthy. Fortunately, there is evidence that lifestyle habits can improve the health of your liver.

Some ways to protect the health of your liver include:. Certain herbs and supplements especially vitamins have been found to harm or damage the liver. For this reason, it's important to talk with a healthcare provider before taking any supplements for liver health.

The liver is a large organ that plays a part in hundreds of bodily processes. Certain types of liver disease may hinder some of these processes and negatively impact your overall health. Scientific evidence shows that some supplements for liver health may be useful, especially when liver disease is present.

However, there is little research that supports the use of supplements in people with healthy livers.

If you think you may need a liver health supplement, talk with a healthcare provider. American Liver Foundation. The healthy liver. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and answers on dietary supplements. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Liver: anatomy and functions.

Herbal medicine. Gillessen A, Schmidt HHJ. Silymarin as supportive treatment in liver diseases: a narrative review. Adv Ther. Kołota A, Głąbska D. Dietary intake of milk thistle seeds as a source of silymarin and its influence on the lipid parameters in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Appl Sci. Tedyanto CP, Wihanto L, Hendrata AP, Tedyanto CP, Wihanto L, Hendrata A. Hepatoprotective effect of dried red jujube fruit extract against acetaminophen-induced acute hepatotoxicity. Maddahi SZ, Jokar A, Kamalinejad M, Behnampur N.

The efficacy of Jujube syrup on the prevention of drug-induced hepatotoxicity in pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a pilot randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Every one of your body systems is dependent on the liver for cleaning the blood of impurities. These impurities can include environmental toxins, additives in food, or medications.

Another example is acetaldehyde, a neurotoxin that comes from alcohol and is also sometimes produced endogenously within your gut. Regular exposure to acetaldehyde causes inflammation, which in turn causes cells to be replaced by scar tissue. The liver has to deal with a truckload of other toxins, too: processed food, drugs, pharmaceutical or otherwise , and pollution.

Even exercise and sunlight cause the body to produce free radicals, which can damage your liver 2. Free radicals are molecules missing an electron, and they can be deadly.

This causes injury to cells and tissues within your liver and makes them more vulnerable to chronic diseases. Signs of an overloaded liver include fatigue, headaches, digestive issues, skin problems, and weakened immune function.

Our new liver support supplement will do just that. It contains liver-supportive ingredients that are scientifically proven to promote good liver health. Milk thistle is one the most popular liver supplements for treating and repairing the liver thanks to its amazing seeds, which contain a flavonoid called silymarin.

Silymarin is an important antioxidant and protects the liver by optimizing liver function and detoxification. It also repairs damage to the liver cells caused by disease, alcohol, and drugs 3. In fact, milk thistle is used all over the world to treat alcoholic hepatitis, liver disease cirrhosis and viral hepatitis.

It binds to the outside of the liver cell and them off free radicals by blocking their entry to the liver cell. It also scavenges toxins that have already found their way into the cell 4. The highest concentration of glutathione is in the liver. Milk thistle also helps to prevent the depletion of glutathione.

The antioxidant activity of this important compound is believed to be ten times more potent than Vitamin E. Commonly eaten throughout North America, Europe and the Mediterranean, artichoke leaf is now known as an important remedy for liver support 6. It contains cynarin, which has been found to increase the production of bile in the liver.

This makes detoxification processes in the body more efficient, helping various organs to clear out harmful toxins such as alcohol and other chemicals. Like milk thistle, artichoke leaf contains the important flavonoid silymarin. Silymarin is best known for its abilities in protecting the liver.

Artichoke leaf also contributes to overall health and welling by helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels in people at risk of coronary heart disease. A well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, the polyphenols in turmeric root are also shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of fatty liver disease caused by stress.

Studies in cows have found that stressful conditions can lead to physiological changes in the liver, which affects the endoplasmic reticulum.

This contributes to the development of fatty liver.