The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the body, with functions that range from detoxification to digestion. Naturally, it is important to take care of your liver, in any manner possible. One such part of providing a little push to your liver is to supplement it with some extra nutrients. It is then, no surprise, that there are a plethora of liver supplements available in the market that offer to detoxify your liver to provide smooth functioning of the liver.
But are they really good for you and your liver? Do they really work? The question that should be asked is that for an organ that cleans up your body, does the liver really need something that detoxifies it? Before heading into that, let’s first discuss the working of the liver and what do the ingredients in liver supplements do for the organ.
After the stomach and the small intestine digest the food, the nutrition is then sent over to the liver to process it further so that the blood can be filtered. The liver produces bile which breaks down and absorbs the fat in your food to provide energy. Aside from this, the liver also metabolises sugar to store it as glycogen. Glycogen is the substance that the liver releases to maintain the sugar levels when they go down in a person.
Moreover, the liver also helps in the removal of toxins created by the excessive use of alcohol, medication, or recreational drugs by pulling them out of the blood. These toxins are then either cleaned up or are removed from the body through excretion.
Most of the liver supplements that hit the market have three main ingredients that are all herbal in nature:
Milk thistle has been a remedy for liver disorders for millennia. Silymarin, the active compound in Milk thistle is made up of a number of natural plant chemicals. Silymarin is scientifically proven to help in the regeneration of liver tissue, reducing inflammation, and provide antioxidant properties. However, some studies have also shown that Milk Thistle has caused allergic reactions or Gastrointestinal issues in people. Also, Milk Thistle lowers blood sugar levels, which is a hazard to people suffering from diabetes.
Another ingredient rich in antioxidants, Artichoke has been studied to reveal its liver cell regeneration properties. It also helps in reducing markers of liver damage in patients of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, any clinical benefits of the use of Artichoke leaf remain to be seen and proven.
While dandelion root has existed as a treatment for several liver ailments, there is very small evidence that it actually has any benefits or not.
While liver supplements make a lot of claims and are actually made up of ingredients that are considered good for the liver, there is no scientific evidence that backs these claims.
If you wish to take these supplements, it is better that you clear these supplements with your doctor first as they may be able to guide you better with your condition in mind. If you show any liver disease symptoms while taking these supplements, it is imperative that you stop taking them immediately. For more information, you can get in touch with the liver expert of India, Dr Vivek Vij, at the Advanced Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.
