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Fatty Liver Alternative Treatments

Fatty liver disease is a common condition that can lead to more serious complications such as liver scarring or even liver failure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Recent scientific studies show that diet, exercise, vitamins and herbs can be powerful allies in treating fatty liver conditions. Using these methods, you may be able to restore your liver to a healthy, normal condition.

  1. Function

    • Fatty liver disease occurs when the liver is overloaded and can no longer break down fats, which then are stored in the liver. Although alcohol is a main culprit in fatty liver disease, it also can appear in people with little or no history of alcohol consumption, especially among the obese. Alternative therapies for fatty liver disease attempt to stimulate liver functioning, remove fatty deposits and protect liver tissue from further deterioration and damage.

    Diet and Excerise

    • Reducing caloric intake relieves the stress on the liver, and getting moderate exercise boosts metabolism, helping the body process unwanted fats and eliminate them. A study published in the Journal of Hepatology in July 1997 found that obese adults with fatty livers saw significant improvement in liver tissue health after three months of a restricted diet and a regimen of daily walking or jogging.

    Milk Thistle

    • Milk thistle is a potent herbal medicine that may protect the liver from acute toxic damage, and recent research shows that it may be able to reverse fatty liver conditions as well. A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences in September 2007 showed that silybin, milk thistle's active compound, reduced ultrasound readings of fatty liver conditions when bound to vitamin E. Other positive changes in liver health were observed, such as lower liver enzyme and insulin levels in the blood.

    Vitamin Therapy

    • The liver processes toxins and manufactures beneficial substances such as vitamins. When liver function is low because of fatty liver conditions, supplementing the diet with vitamins may give the liver the boost it needs to begin healing itself. A study published in the Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology in September 2005 found supplementation with vitamins E and C to be highly beneficial to patients suffering from fatty liver disease, and results were comparable to ursodeoxycholic acid--a medication used to treat cirrhosis.

    Prognosis

    • Diet, exercise, vitamins and herbs have powerful effects on the liver and have been shown to lessen and even possibly reverse fatty liver conditions. By incorporating all these strategies into an overall plan to fight fatty liver disease, and combined with the avoidance of alcohol, the potential of treating this condition through alternative means is promising.

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