5 Ways To Fight Fatty Liver By: GreenMedInfo Research Group
From silymarin to your daily cup of joe, here are five natural therapies you can consider to protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and other forms of fatty liver today.
The liver is the largest organ in the body and helps store energy, digest food and get rid of toxins. Just like in the human body, fat builds up in the liver, leading to fatty liver disease. Liver diseases are considered the second leading cause of mortality among all digestive disorders in the U.S., as well as the fifth most common cause of death.[i]
Fatty liver diseases include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). These two are the most common liver disorders in the industrialized world, accounting for 10% to 46% in the U.S. alone.[ii] According to systematic reviews, the prevalence of NAFLD in adults is around 25% to 33%.
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NAFLD is of particular interest as the most common chronic liver disease in children and young people in industrialized nations, mainly due to obesity.[iii] It’s often diagnosed with abnormal liver tests or fatty changes coming up on ultrasound. This liver condition can silently progress and remain asymptomatic, so early detection is key.
NAFLD is also present in more than half of adults with Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.[iv] Untreated, the disease can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer.
Five Ways to Combat Fatty Liver Naturally
1. Curcumin
Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic agent, traditionally used for treating liver diseases. It is the main natural polyphenol found in turmeric, used for thousands of years for its multiple health benefits.[v]
A 2020 study found that supplementing with curcumin favorably affected metabolic markers in patients with NAFLD.[vi] Results of the meta-analysis indicated a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and waist circumference.
A separate review evaluated the efficacy of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes in NAFLD patients.[vii] The team found a favorable effect with higher dosage, suggesting “further high-quality studies with large scale and higher dosage” need to be done.
2. Probiotics
Probiotics are deemed a potential therapy for NAFLD. A 2019 systematic review found probiotics are superior to placebo in patients with NAFLD and could serve as a complementary therapy.[viii]
Combined with omega-3 fats, a live multistrain probiotic mixture taken daily for eight weeks by NAFLD patients reduced liver fat, improved serum lipids and metabolic profile and reduced systemic inflammation.[ix] Paired with cholesterol-lowering drugs, probiotics also helped treat atherogenic dyslipidemia linked to NAFLD.[x]
