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Our Members Asked:
Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease? Are some diets more beneficial than others?
Answer:
Fatty liver disease (steatosis) is a condition in which extra fat is stored in the liver. The cause of one type of fatty liver disease, known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or MASLD (previously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD), is unknown, but factors such as obesity, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome can increase the risk. MASLD can be subdivided into steatotic liver disease (steatosis with no enlargement of liver cells) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or MASH (steatosis with enlargement of liver cells).
MASLD may not cause serious problems, but it can lead to liver damage in some people. Fortunately, the condition can often be prevented or reversed with lifestyle changes such as dieting, exercising, and losing weight. Certain supplements, including vitamin E, delta-tocotrienol, vitamin C, fish oil, silymarin from milk thistle, curcumin, choline, vitamin D, reishi, alpha-lipoic acid, SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine), bergamot, berberine, spirulina, TUDCA, brown seaweed, L-citrulline, pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), quercetin, propolis, and prebiotics, as well as branded products such as Glucevia and Dose For Your Liver and foods such as probiotic yogurt, coffee, and extra virgin olive oil, have been investigated.
Sign in to find out which, if any, of these supplements are safe and beneficial for fatty liver disease, which dietary considerations are considered most important for people with fatty liver disease, and which diet — the Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, DASH diet, or fasting diets — appears to have greatest evidence of benefit for fatty liver disease.
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33 Comments
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CHRISTOPHER22145
March 05, 2025I watch a medical tv show from Japan in English of cutting edge medicine in Japan, & the Japanese scientist are reversing NAFLD & heart-failure with high dose Astaxanthin. The shows end credits lists Fuji Health Sciences who makes a patented brand of Astaxanthin called AstaReal & Consumer Labs has tested some brands that contain AstaReal.
ConsumerLab.com
March 07, 2025We are not aware of any good clinical studies supporting the use of astaxanthin for fatty liver disease.
Reply to this post…
Atlas
October 14, 2024I can say I have access to an ultrasound and an MRI from a family member that showed fatty liver reversal by taking 300 mg of Pantethine twice a day, following what was shown in this older study: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jat1994/7/1/7_1_55/_pdf/-char/en
ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024Thank you for sharing your experience. While the study you cited suggests a possible benefit, it did not include a placebo control group, which is needed to prove a benefit. We are not aware of higher quality clinical studies evaluating pantetheine for fatty liver disease.
Sam21736
January 26, 2025I have been using Dose for 6 months it help bring all my liver functions down to normal levels without changes to diet or lifestlye it works
Reply to this post…
HappyGoLucky
May 05, 2024Does propolis help those with fatty liver disease?
ConsumerLab.com
July 30, 2024Please see the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-fatty-liver-disease/fatty-liver-disease/#propolis
Reply to this post…
richard15922
July 17, 2023My wife has NAFLD and I started her on Vitamin E and her liver enzymes normalized!
ConsumerLab.com
July 26, 2023Thank you for sharing this. Please be aware that, as discussed in the answer above, there are potential risks with vitamin E supplementation and it not recommended for people with certain other conditions.
Reply to this post…
Lorraine15916
February 21, 2023When I was prescribed Berberine for a different reason by my naturopathic doctor my liver enzymes went way up. I had used Berberine twice and had the same experience each time.
ConsumerLab.com
February 21, 2023Thank you for sharing this. We aren't aware of any published reports of berberine increasing liver enzyme levels, although it has been reported to increase blood levels of bilirubin in some people. See the "Concerns and Cautions" section of our Berberine Supplements Review https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/berberine-goldenseal-supplements-review/berberine/#cautions.
Reply to this post…
Michael15911
February 14, 2023You have a separate article regarding Berberine and it’s connection to DNA damage. Specifically Chromosomal Translation. I personally used to take Berberine during a time, 2019-2020, that I was experiencing fatty liver disease. I have since been diagnosed with CML , positive with the Philadelphia Chromosome. CML is caused by Chromosomal translation. I believe more caution should be observed with Berberine
ConsumerLab.com
February 15, 2023Thank you for posting about your experience. Sorry to hear about your condition. You're correct that a laboratory study suggested that berberine may cause DNA damage, although this has not been demonstrated in people, as discussed in the Concerns & Cautions section of our Berberine Supplements Review: https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/berberine-goldenseal-supplements-review/berberine/#cautions
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James15904
August 03, 2021I saw a video claiming reductions in blood biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from taking a citrus bergamot extract. I did a search on pubmed of "bergamot polyphenolic fraction NAFLD"; there were 7 hits. Here is one: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26025327/. The title is "Bergamot polyphenol fraction prevents nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via stimulation of lipophagy in cafeteria diet-induced rat model of metabolic syndrome". I have no financial interest in any supplement.
ConsumerLab.com
August 09, 2021We've added information about bergamot polyphenolic fraction in the answer above.
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Jonathan15901
July 14, 2021I appreciate that my reference to research on delta-tocotrienol was added.
ConsumerLab.com
July 14, 2021Happy to help. Thank you for asking about it.
Reply to this post…
Jonathan15895
July 12, 2021When it comes to vitamin E for NAFLD, you missed a huge study, at least related to delta-tocotrienol:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32951743/
ConsumerLab.com
July 15, 2021Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We've added information about delta-tocotrienol for fatty liver disease in the answer above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-fatty-liver-disease/fatty-liver-disease/#delta-tocotrienol
richard15896
December 03, 2021My wife has NAFLD with elevated liver enzymes. She began taking E Gems Elite 400IU with Tochpherols & Tocotrienols once daily and her liver enzymes normalized.
richard15897
March 06, 2023My wife had the same experience!
richard15899
May 08, 2023My wife also had the same experience!
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Diana15893
July 12, 2021I have heard that Alpha Lipoic Acid helps fatty liver (Not Alcoholic kind). Have you seen any real tests on this? Thank you.
ConsumerLab.com
July 15, 2021Thank you for your question. We've added information about alpha-lipoic acid for fatty liver disease in the answer above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-fatty-liver-disease/fatty-liver-disease/#ala
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Stephen15890
July 11, 2021I am surprised you did not mention Glucevia as that supplement has been recommended to help reverse or prevent fatty liver. I have no financial interest in Glucevia or any other supplement.
ConsumerLab.com
July 15, 2021Thank you for your comment. We've added information about Glucevia for fatty liver disease in the answer above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-fatty-liver-disease/fatty-liver-disease/#glucevia
Reply to this post…
Edward15887
July 11, 2021I have been taking green tea extract (NOW EGCg - 400mg) daily ever since I read a Medical Xpress item about a Penn State mouse study last year. I have also been taking Milk Thistle (Equate - 250mg) 1000mg/day for years, which makes my liver feel less stressed. I was diagnosed with fatty liver at 50 (I don't drink) 24 years ago, when I was at least 40 lbs. lighter. I haven't had it tested since.
eddie15889
August 08, 2021My experience with green tea extract caused a significant rise in my liver enzymes.
When I removed it ( 30 day period) enzymes returned to normal.
( There are studies confirming my experience)
Reply to this post…
Kippur15883
July 11, 2021Wow. We are still on this dead end street. It's the food. It was always the food. Eat good food and exercise. Excessive supplements--like drugs--do not address the cause.
Carole15886
July 13, 2021My physician prescribed Ursodiol twice a day. LFTs are normal now. I know this is not a supplement, but I hope it is helpful
Reply to this post…
Don15881
July 11, 2021I'm surprised you didn't included tocotrienols in your review.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24373555/
“Conclusion: This is the first (2013) clinical trial that showed the hepatoprotective effects of mixed palm tocotrienols in hypercholesterolemic adults with NAFLD.”
New Study Shows Tocotrienols Reverse Fatty Liver Disease, By Dr. Marilyn Arguillas, MD
https://www.clinicaleducation.org/resources/abstracts/new-study-shows-tocotrienols-reverse-fatty-liver-disease-by-dr-marilyn-arguillas-md-fpcp-fpsg-fpsde/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29749323/
Conclusion: (2018) d-Tocotrienol was safe, and it effectively improved aminotransferase levels and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with NAFLD. Large-scale randomized clinical trials are warranted to further support these findings.
ConsumerLab.com
July 15, 2021Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We've added information about delta-tocotrienol for fatty liver disease in the answer above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-fatty-liver-disease/fatty-liver-disease/#delta-tocotrienol
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richard15879
July 11, 2021My wife has NAFLD with elevated liver enzymes (low level elevation). I put her on E Gems Elite Vitamin E 400IU. She take one daily and her Liver blood tests normalized. I am just a consumer. No financial interest in the company.
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