What are liver supplements?
Your liver is one of your largest and most important organs.
In addition to storing and releasing energy from foods, it acts as your body’s natural filter. Your liver catches the “gunk” in your blood, removing toxins and wastes from your system.
Given how important this organ is to your health, it’s no surprise that supplement manufacturers have jumped on the liver detox bandwagon.
Dozens of products with names like “Liver Guard,” “Liver Rescue,” and “Liver Detox” claim they can get your liver in top shape — and help you feel better in the process.
Do liver supplements work? And does the organ that detoxifies your body really need its own detox?
In reality, many of the claims on liver supplement bottles don’t stand up to the research. Although some studies have found benefits from certain supplement ingredients — like milk thistle and artichoke leaf — they were mainly in people with liver disease.
Whether these supplements can improve liver function in otherwise healthy people has yet to be proven.
What are the claims?
Liver supplement labels claim their products will “detoxify,” “regenerate,” and “rescue” your liver.
They purport to undo the damaging effects of alcohol, fat, sugar, and all the other toxins your liver’s been forced to process over the years — or after a weekend binge.
Liver supplement websites claim their products:
- promote liver function and health
- protect liver cells from damage
- stimulate the growth of new liver cells
- detoxify the liver
- improve blood flow from the liver
Manufacturers of these natural remedies promise that their supplements will regenerate your liver and restore it to its peak function. They also claim their products will give you more energy, strengthen your immune system, help you lose weight, and even improve your mood.
How the liver works
Weighing in at about 3 pounds, the liver has a lot of important jobs.
Your liver eventually processes everything you eat. After your stomach and intestines finish digesting food, it travels through your bloodstream to your liver for filtering.
The liver breaks down fat to release energy. It produces a yellow-green substance called bile to help your body break down and absorb fat.
This organ is also involved in sugar metabolism. It pulls glucose from your blood and stores it in the form of glycogen. Anytime your blood sugar level dips, the liver releases glycogen to keep your levels steady.
When alcohol, medications, and other toxins make their way to your liver, they’re pulled from your blood. Then your liver either cleans up these substances, or removes them into your urine or stool.
Popular supplement ingredients
Many of the liver supplements on the market contain a combination of three herbal ingredients:
- milk thistle
- artichoke leaf
- dandelion root
Let’s break down each ingredient by the research.
Milk thistle
Milk thistle has been used to treat liver disorders for more than 2,000 years. It’s the herbal ingredient most often used Trusted Source for liver complaints in the United States.
The active substance in milk thistle is silymarin, which is made up of several natural plant chemicals.
Lab studies Trusted Source suggest that silymarin helps regenerate liver tissue, bring down inflammation, and protect liver cells from damage by acting as an antioxidant. Human studies have been mixed Trusted Source on its benefits, though.
One study Trusted Source looked at children who were being treated with chemotherapy for leukemia. After 28 days, kids who received milk thistle supplements had slightly fewer signs of damage to their liver.
Many of the studies on silymarin have involved people with cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C.
A Cochrane review Trusted Source evaluated 18 milk thistle studies including people with these conditions. The supplement didn’t have much effect on liver disease complications or deaths compared to placebo (inactive) treatment. Many of the studies included in the review were of poor quality.
A 2017 analysis of studies Trusted Source found that silymarin slightly reduced certain liver enzymes, markers of liver damage, in people with liver disease. More research is still needed to know how well milk thistle might work.
Milk thistle seems to be safe Trusted Source. Yet, some people have reported GI symptoms or allergic reactions after taking it.
Because this supplement can lower blood sugar levels, people with diabetes should check with their doctor before taking it.
Artichoke leaf
Artichoke leaf has antioxidant properties. Studies suggest Trusted Source that it may protect the liver. Research done in animals Trusted Source shows it may help liver cells regenerate.
In studies done in 2016Trusted Source and 2018Trusted Source of people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, artichoke leaf reduced markers of liver damage compared with placebo. However, the clinical benefits of artichoke leaf supplementation remain to be seen.
Dandelion root
Though dandelion has been used to treat liver ailments, the evidence of its benefits is scarce Trusted Source. Much more research is needed to determine whether it’s safe and effective for this purpose.
Other ingredients
In addition to milk thistle, artichoke, and dandelion, liver supplements differentiate themselves by adding a blend of other ingredients. This can include things like:
- wild tam Mexican root
- yellow dock root extract
- hawthorn berry
- chanca piedra
Well-designed human studies showing that these herbs work are still lacking.