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Vitamins That Can Help Rebuild a Damaged Liver

When people suffer from a damaged liver or liver disease, they most likely have a deficiency of certain vitamins. Vitamins most commonly lacking in those with liver damage include vitamins B6, D, C and K. The liver lacks the ability to regenerate itself; create a vitamin therapy regimen to help rebuild and regenerate a damaged liver.

  1. Vitamin B6

    • Our bodies cannot store vitamin B6; instead, we must obtain this vital nutrient on a daily basis from supplements and dietary habits. Crucial to maintaining a healthy immune system, vitamin B6 helps prevent the formation of kidney stones and can treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Vitamin B6 plays an integral role in the production of the brain transmitter serotonin, which controls our moods, appetite, sleep patterns and sensitivity to pain. Most people need approximately 1.3 mg of vitamin B6 per day.

      According to a study published by the Journal of Nutrition, the metabolism of vitamin B6 can regenerate the liver in rats.

      To increase your supply of vitamin B6, eat plenty of foods such as spinach, bell peppers, turnip greens, garlic, tuna, cauliflower, mustard greens, bananas, celery, cabbage, asparagus, mushrooms, broccoli, kale, cod and chard.

    Vitamin D

    • According to the Science Daily website, patients with chronic liver disease often develop a vitamin D deficiency. Get your vitamin D in supplement form and from the food you eat (vitamin D enriched milk, for example). Interestingly, however, the human body will naturally produce vitamin D on its own when getting enough sunlight. To obtain additional vitamin D from sunlight, apply sunscreen and spend at least 15 to 20 minutes a day in the sun. If you live in an area with harsh winters, even spending this time in the sun during the warm months but avoiding going outside during the winter months will provide enough vitamin D to last you all year. Some doctors recommend 10,000 international units of vitamin D a few months out of the year.

    Vitamin K

    • Vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin, occurs in a number of foods, such as green, leafy vegetables, cauliflower and liver. Your liver synthesizes bile acids, secreting them into the small intestine. From there, bile acids play a crucial role in absorption of lipids. Jump-start your ability to absorb lipids in order for your body to use vitamin K. Decreased bile salt synthesis results in an impaired absorption of vitamin K, causing liver disease. Make sure you get enough vitamin K by ingesting the daily recommended allowance: Healthy, pregnant or breast-feeding women need 90 mg of vitamin K a day, while men ages 19 or older need 120 mg daily.

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