Your Definitive Guide To The Best Supplements For Fatty Liver Disease (+ How To Start Healing Naturally!)

Common symptoms of fatty liver

Fatty liver disease, particularly in its early stages, often doesn't cause noticeable symptoms. Many people with fatty liver don’t experience any symptoms and they only discover they have this condition through a routine medical check-up or tests for other health concerns. However, as the disease progresses into more severe forms, some individuals may experience symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Abdominal Discomfort
• Mild Abdominal Pain
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Jaundice (Yellowing of the Skin and Eyes)
• Enlarged Liver
• Dark Urine
• Spider Angiomas: (small, spider-like blood vessels)
• Itching

It's important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to fatty liver disease, and they can also indicate the presence of other liver conditions. Fatty liver disease is diagnosed through imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI or liver function tests including blood tests.

The connection between gut health and liver health

Like most things with your health, it all comes back to your gut. Working in constant communication with your stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, and the rest of your digestive system, your liver is responsible for storing and converting nutrients from the foods you eat for your body to utilize. Through its role in the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates, your liver works to ensure (3) that blood glucose levels stay stable, preventing blood sugar imbalances and other metabolic problems. 

But one of its other primary functions is to filter out toxins from the foods you eat and the things you are exposed to in your environment. It’s also a blood purifier, clearing your blood of these impurities so that you only use what you need and don’t get too affected by those things that could compromise your health. 

As you can see, your liver is one busy organ and works hand in hand with your gut to process everything you consume - whether that is beneficial nutrients or toxins. And now that we understand this vital relationship, we can see just how important a healthy gut is to avoiding NAFLD.

In fact, researchers have found such a strong connection between your gut and your liver they have coined the impact of this relationship the “gut-liver axis”. For example, studies have found that underlying conditions like leaky gut syndrome, (4) SIBO, (5) and bacterial dysbiosis (6) in your gut and oral microbiome have all been directly linked to the development of NAFLD.

Best supplements for fatty liver

As a functional medicine expert, I understand that supplements shouldn’t be your foundation for wellness. However, there are many supplements for fatty liver that have been clinically studied for their ability to help support liver function and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

1. Milk thistle

As one of my top favorite detox supplements, milk thistle is a plant that aids in eliminating toxins that have built up in the liver while also helping to restore liver cells that have been damaged from increased toxin exposure. It’s one of the most well-researched natural remedies for treating liver problems and has been used for years to treat (7) a variety of liver ailments, from hepatitis to alcoholic liver disease.

My supplement, Protect, is formulated with high-quality milk thistle to support your body’s natural ability to detox by facilitating optimal function of both phase I and phase II of the detoxification process.

2. Omega-3s

Omega-3 fish oil supplements, specifically those containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), have been shown to significantly reduce (2) the accumulation of fat in the liver. Plus, omega-3s are known for their ability to help lower inflammation and blood sugar levels - two hallmarks of NAFLD.

Unfortunately, not all fish oil supplements are created equally. Unlike most other fish oils that can be hit or miss in terms of bioavailability, my supplement The Omega+ is formulated with MaxSimil® monoglyceride fish oil that has a three times greater EPA+DHA absorption rate than an equivalent dose of other leading fish oils.

3. N-acetyl-cysteine

N-acetyl-cysteine - or NAC for short - is a potent antioxidant that has long been studied for its ability to protect the liver from oxidative damage from toxins. Researchers have even found NAC to be so beneficial for liver health that doctors often administer it (8) in the cases of drug overdose and liver cancer.

Formulated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), my supplement Protect, is designed to support critical steps in your liver's detoxification process to rid your body of toxins like heavy metals and xenoestrogens.

4. Probiotics

Considering the role of the gut in NAFLD, daily probiotics are one way to ensure your gut is getting exactly what it needs to thrive. One study (9) of over 21 clinical trials showed that regular probiotic supplementation regulated both liver function and insulin levels in people diagnosed with NAFLD, in addition to their ability to help with everything from gut microbiome balance, gut barrier function, and inflammation levels.

With 100 billion CFUs per capsule, my supplement The Probiotic, contains four strains of beneficial bacteria, including the extensively studied HN019 strain of Bifidobacterium lactis for enhanced microbiome support.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may have a protective effect on the liver and has been studied for its potential benefits in NAFLD. But with that said, talk with your doctor before taking vitamin E as high doses can have side effects.

6. CoQ10

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with lower levels of Coenzyme Q10, with multiple studies showing that supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 can notably decrease (10) the high oxidative stress and inflammation levels commonly seen in NAFLD patients.

7. Turmeric

Multiple studies have found that turmeric supplementation is quickly able to reduce (11) liver enzymes like ALT in those with NAFLD in as little as 8 weeks!

For a targeted dose of curcumin - the therapeutic compound found in turmeric - look no further than my supplement The Curcumin, that is packed with pure turmeric extract from BCM-95® which has been extensively studied for its proven efficacy and enhanced bioavailability.

Other ways to support healing

Remember, you can’t supplement your way into good health. That’s why healing from fatty liver, whether it's non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), involves making significant lifestyle changes in order to address the root cause of this condition.

1. Limit alcohol consumption

Even if you aren’t diagnosed with alcoholic fatty liver disease, it’s important to greatly limit your alcohol consumption since alcohol itself can contribute to fat accumulation in the liver. By cutting back on or eliminating alcohol consumption, you reduce the burden on your liver and give it a chance to process and eliminate accumulated fat.

2. Drink more coffee

If you’re a coffee lover, you’re in luck! Studies have found that drinking anywhere between 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day can have a positive effect (12) on liver function by encouraging the production of anti-inflammatory liver enzymes and reducing overall liver damage.

3. Avoid added sugar + manage blood sugar levels

Fatty liver disease often coexists with insulin resistance, a condition where your body's cells don't respond effectively to insulin. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels. When you have insulin resistance, your body produces more insulin to compensate. When this happens, your body compensates with higher blood sugar levels that encourage your liver to convert excess glucose into fat for storage - specifically in your liver.

To manage your blood sugar, reduce your intake of sugar and processed foods and instead focus on clean, whole food sources of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

4. Manage your weight

In functional medicine we understand that you have to get healthy to lose weight, not lose weight to get healthy. However, for some people with NAFLD, taking steps to manage your weight can significantly improve NAFLD. Since this condition is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and obesity, making an effort to move your body regularly and limiting your intake of sugar and processed foods like I mentioned above, can make a huge difference in improving underlying mechanisms that play a role in weight gain.

5. Go non-toxic

Excessive toxin exposure can put additional, unnecessary stress on your liver. Take small steps to reduce toxin exposure by swapping out conventional cleaning, beauty, and self-care products for ones that are labeled non-toxic.

Choosing the right supplement plan for you

When it comes to NAFLD, it’s important to remember that this condition is not due to a lack of supplementation. While there are many supplements that have been clinically shown to help support liver function, supplements are just one part of your healing journey. If you are struggling with NAFLD, I recommend working with a qualified practitioner who can help you identify and address the underlying causes of your condition through dietary and lifestyle changes in addition to supplements.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

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