Liver Cirrhosis (Holistic)
About This Condition
- Stop drinking
Head off additional liver damage by avoiding alcohol
- Balance protein and amino acids
Work with a knowledgeable health professional to determine that amount of protein or specific amino acids that will meet your daily needs without overtaxing your liver
- Discover SAMe
Taking 1,200 mg a day of this nutritional supplement can improve liver function, bile flow, and survival
- Try milk thistle
Protect liver cells and improve function by taking a daily herbal supplement delivering 420 to 600 mg of silymarin
- Get to know phosphatidylcholine
Take 900 mg a day of this nutritional supplement to improve liver function
About
About This Condition
Cirrhosis is a condition of severe damage to the liver that impairs its ability to function normally.
In the United States, the most common cause of liver cirrhosis is chronic alcoholism. Liver cirrhosis may also result from chronic viral infection of the liver (hepatitis types B, C, and D) and a number of inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, and Wilson’s disease. If severe, liver cirrhosis may lead to liver failure and death. In the Western world, liver cirrhosis is the third leading cause of death in people from ages 45 to 65 (after cardiovascular disease and cancer).1 Liver cirrhosis may also cause a dangerous brain abnormality called portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE), which may lead to coma. Another form of cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), damages the bile ducts in the liver, and occurs primarily in women over 35 years of age. The cause of PBC is not known.
Symptoms
Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms for years. Others may have weakness, loss of appetite, malaise, and weight loss. With blocked bile flow, it is common for people with cirrhosis to have jaundice, itching, and fatty yellow skin nodules. Later in the disease, there may be massive bleeding inside the throat, brain abnormalities due to accumulation of ammonia in the blood, liver failure, and death.
Healthy Lifestyle Tips
Alcoholism is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis in the Western world. Drinking too much alcohol also impairs the absorption and accelerates loss of several nutrients.2, 3, 4 Therefore, avoidance of alcohol is strongly recommended for people with liver cirrhosis. Alcohol is directly toxic to the liver. In people with alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis, even moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of portal hypertension, a dangerous blood pressure abnormality in the liver’s circulation.5
Eating Right
The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| Get enough protein, but not too much | Getting adequate protein is essential, but because of the danger of ammonia toxicity, a doctor should closely supervise any changes in protein intake. Adequate protein intake is essential for people with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, because this condition often results in significant protein, as well as calorie, deficiency. However, people with liver cirrhosis may be unable to tolerate normal amounts of dietary protein because the cirrhotic liver is less able to detoxify ammonia, a major product of protein digestion. Ammonia toxicity contributes to PSE. The amount of protein that can be tolerated by people with cirrhosis varies considerably. In these people, there is only a small margin of safety when treating protein deficiency. Extreme caution must be exercised when changing their protein intake. A doctor familiar with this disease should closely supervise any changes in dietary protein intake by people with cirrhosis. |
| Watch the copper | Some people with cirrhosis may have an excess of copper in the liver. If this is the case, avoid foods rich in copper, such as chocolate, shellfish, and liver. Some people with cirrhosis and impaired bile flow (such as in Wilson’s disease or PBC) may have an excess amount of copper accumulate in the liver. If laboratory tests confirm copper excess, most doctors would recommend avoiding foods rich in copper (such as chocolate, shellfish, and liver) along with medical treatment to reduce copper stores. |
Supplements
Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by some in the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.
For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.
3 StarsReliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
2 StarsContradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
1 StarFor an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.
| Supplement | Why |
|---|---|
3 Stars SAMe 1,200 mg daily | Taking SAMe may improve liver function, bile flow, and survival. Large amounts of SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) may improve survival and liver function in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A double-blind trial found that 1,200 mg of SAMe per day for two years significantly decreased the overall death rate and the need for liver transplantation in people with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, particularly in those with less advanced liver disease. Preliminary trials suggest that lower amounts of SAMe (180 mg per day in one trial and 800 mg per day in another) may improve liver function in people with liver cirrhosis. SAMe supplementation has been shown to reverse the depletion of glutathione, an important antioxidant required for liver function.It has also been shown to aid in the resolution of blocked bile flow (cholestasis), a common complication of liver cirrhosis. |
2 Stars Acetyl-L-Carnitine 2 grams twice a day for 3 months | A double-blind trial suggests that supplementing with acety-l-carnitine may improve mental and neurological function in people whose cirrhosis has impaired function. In double-blind trials, supplementing with acety-L-carnitine (2 grams twice a day for three months) improved fatigue and various measures of mental and neurological function in people with impaired function (minimal hepatic encephalopathy) due to cirrhosis. |
2 Stars Beta-Glucan, Inulin, Pectin, and Resistant Starch 10 grams total fermentable fiber daily | In a study of people with cirrhosis, supplementing with fermentable fiber (containing equal parts of beta-glucan, inulin, pectin, and resistant starch) improved liver and brain function. In a study of people with cirrhosis, supplementing with 10 grams of fermentable fiber per day (containing equal parts of beta-glucan, inulin, pectin, and resistant starch) for 30 days resulted in an improvement in liver function. The impaired brain function that often accompanies cirrhosis of the liver (hepatic encephalopathy) also improved. |
2 Stars Branched-Chain Amino Acids At least 5 grams daily, up to 0.24 grams per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) body weight per day | Under a doctor’s supervision, supplementing with branched-chain amino acids may correct an imbalance of amino acids and improve cirrhosis symptoms. In addition to protein deficiency, liver cirrhosis is characterized by low blood levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in relation to other amino acids. This imbalance may contribute to the development of PSE. BCAA supplementation could be a way to correct this problem, as well as to provide a source of needed protein, but its effectiveness is unclear. BCAAs (isoleucine, leucine, and valine) represent a good protein source for people with cirrhosis because they are less likely to induce PSE. A controlled study of protein-intolerant people with cirrhosis showed that BCAA supplementation corrected abnormal protein metabolism about as well as an equivalent amount of dietary protein without inducing PSE as frequently. In a small double-blind trial, people with liver cirrhosis taking 5 grams per day of BCAAs had significant improvement in their ability to process protein. However, treatment trials using BCAAs alone or in solutions containing other amino acids in people with cirrhosis and PSE have reported conflicting results. It may be that certain people with liver cirrhosis can benefit from supplementation with BCAAs while others cannot, for reasons that are unclear. In a double-blind trial, people with liver cirrhosis and PSE received 0.24 grams per 2.2 pounds body weight (approximately 16–17 grams per day) of BCAAs for 15 days, after which most experienced significant improvement in brain function, mental status, and protein metabolism. Those who continued taking BCAAs for three months also had mild improvement in liver function tests. Therapeutic effects of oral BCAAs have also been shown in children with liver failure and in adults with cirrhosis of the liver without PSE. Overall, it appears that BCAA supplementation does not always help in cirrhosis, but some people with and without PSE may benefit. A qualified doctor must closely supervise such BCAA supplementation. |
2 Stars L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate 18 grams daily of L-ornithine-L-aspartate | As both a supplement and injection, L-ornithine-L-aspartate has been shown to significantly improve liver function, mental status, and brain function. L-ornithine-L-aspartate (OA) is a nutritional supplement that has been investigated as a treatment for cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. In a double-blind trial, participants taking 18 grams of OA for 14 days had significant improvements in liver function, mental status, and brain function. Similar benefits have also been demonstrated using injections of OA. |
2 Stars Milk Thistle 420 mg of silymarin daily | Supplementing with milk thistle may protect liver cells and improve function. An extract of milk thistle(Silybum marianum) that is high in a flavonoid compound known as silymarin may improve liver function and increase survival in people with cirrhosis. Clinical trials have shown that silymarin (420–600 mg per day) improves liver function tests and protects liver cells against oxidative damage in people with alcohol-related liver disease. However, evidence is conflicting regarding the ability of silymarin to prolong survival of people with liver cirrhosis. In one double-blind trial, a significant increase in survival was found in people with cirrhosis who were given 140 mg of silymarin three times a day for approximately two years. Positive results were also found in a 12-month controlled study of adults with diabetes and alcoholic liver cirrhosis taking the same daily amount of silymarin. However, another double-blind trial found that 150 mg of silymarin three times a day for two years had no significant effect on survival among alcoholics with liver cirrhosis. For people with chronic liver disease, milk thistle extract may be taken long-term. Milk thistle extracts containing 80% silymarin are commercially available and may be taken in amounts that deliver 420 mg of silymarin per day. |
2 Stars Peony Under medical supervision: take the Chinese herbal formula shakuyaku-kanzo-to | One trial showed that the Chinese formula shakuyaku-kanzo-to (containing white peony and licorice roots) relieved muscle cramps due to liver cirrhosis. One double-blind trial showed that the Chinese formula shakuyaku-kanzo-to (containing white peony and licorice roots) effectively relieved muscle cramps due to cirrhosis of the liver. This formula is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare for cirrhosis-induced muscle cramps. |
2 Stars Phosphatidyl Choline 900 mg phosphatidyl choline per day | Phosphatidylcholine breaks down scar tissue in the liver and may be able to reverse tissue changes that cause cirrhosis. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) breaks down scar tissue in the liver and may be able to reverse tissue changes that cause cirrhosis. In animal studies, PC has been repeatedly shown to prevent or reverse the progression of alcohol-induced cirrhosis, but this has not yet been demonstrated in humans. In a controlled trial, Czech researchers found that PC supplementation (900 mg per day for four months) improved liver function in people with cirrhosis. |
2 Stars Probiotics Refer to label instructions | A probiotic preparation called VSL#3, which contains 8 different strains of beneficial bacteria, has been shown to improve the impaired mental and neurological function that is commonly seen in people with cirrhosis. A probiotic preparation called VSL#3, which contains 8 different strains of beneficial bacteria, has been shown to improve the impaired mental and neurological function (minimal hepatic encephalopathy) that is commonly seen in people with cirrhosis.. It is not known whether other probiotic products would also be effective. Because people with severe illnesses such as cirrhosis could theoretically be harmed by supplementing with live bacteria, people with cirrhosis should only take probiotics under medical supervision. |
2 Stars Sea Buckthorn 15 grams three times daily of sea buckthorn extract | Preliminary research suggests that sea buckthorn may improve indicators of liver damage. Sea buckthorn has been shown to protect the liver from damage in animal studies, and to reduce blood indicators of liver damage in preliminary human studies.. In a controlled trial, 80% of people with cirrhosis who took 15 grams three times daily of sea buckthorn extract (potency or standardization not stated) had blood indicators of liver damage return to normal within six months, compared to 56% of a group taking a B-complex vitamin. |
2 Stars Sho-Saiko-To (Bupleurum, Peony, Pinellia, Cassia, Ginger, Jujube, Asian Ginseng, Asian Scullcap, and Licorice) 2.5 grams of the Chinese herbal formula sho-saiko-to three times daily | The Chinese herb bupleurum is a component of the formula sho-saiko-to, which was shown in one preliminary trial to liver cancer risk in people with liver cirrhosis. The Chinese herb bupleurum is an important component of the formula known as sho-saiko-to. Sho-saiko-to was shown in one preliminary trial to reduce the risk of liver cancer in people with liver cirrhosis. The amount of this formula used was 2.5 grams three times daily. |
2 Stars Zinc Take under medical supervision: 135 to 215 mg daily | Supplementing with zinc may correct the deficiency common in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and may correct the impaired taste function that people with cirrhosis often experience. Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is associated with zinc deficiency. In a double-blind trial, zinc acetate supplementation (200 mg three times daily, providing a total of 215 mg of elemental zinc per day), given to cirrhosis patients for seven days, significantly improved portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE). A second trial achieved similar results after three months of treatment and a third trial found a beneficial effect from 6 months of treatment with 51 mg per day of zinc in the form of zinc L-carnosine complex. People with cirrhosis sometimes have impaired taste function, and it has been suggested that zinc deficiency may be the cause of this abnormality. Although one study demonstrated that taste problems in cirrhosis are due to the disease process itself and not to zinc deficiency, a double-blind trial showed that 200 mg three times per day of zinc sulfate (providing 135 mg of elemental zinc per day) for six weeks significantly improved taste function in people with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A doctor should supervise long-term supplementation of zinc in these amounts. |
1 Star Bile Acids (Primary Biliary Cirrhosis) Refer to label instructions | People with cirrhosis have decreased secretion of bile acids. Supplementing with bile acids may improve bile composition and delay disease progression in primary biliary cirrhosis. People with cirrhosis have decreased secretion of bile acids. Supplementation with bile acids (such as ursodeoxycholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid) may improve the composition of bile and delay disease progression in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). In one trial, people with PBC were followed for five to nine years. Those who took 13–15 mg per 2.2 pounds body weight of ursodeoxycholic acid (about 900–1200 mg) per day had improved liver function tests and significantly delayed progression to cirrhosis. Several other trials have confirmed that bile acids improve liver function in people with PBC. Commercial supplements of bile acids are available as ox bile concentrates. However, these ox bile preparations contain other types of bile acids than those used in PBC research. The effectiveness and appropriate amount of ox bile concentrates in the treatment of PBC is unknown. |
1 Star L-Carnitine Refer to label instructions | L-carnitine injections have been used to improve circulation to the liver in people with cirrhosis. L-carnitine injections have been used to improve circulation to the liver in people with cirrhosis, but trials of the oral supplement are lacking. |
1 Star Selenium Refer to label instructions | People with liver cirrhosis often have low selenium levels and a greater need for antioxidants. In one study, selenium improved liver function in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. Selenium levels have been found to be low in people with liver cirrhosis and the need for antioxidants has been found to be increased. A small, preliminary trial suggested that 100 mcg per day of selenium may improve liver function in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. Larger, double-blind trials of selenium in people with liver cirrhosis are needed. |
1 Star Vitamin E Refer to label instructions | Vitamin E has been shown to decrease damage in cirrhotic livers and may reduce immune abnormalities that contribute to the development of the disease. Vitamin E has been shown to decrease damage in cirrhotic livers and may reduce immune abnormalities that contribute to the development of the disease. However, a study reported that supplementation of 500 IU per day of vitamin E for one year failed to influence laboratory tests, liver function, survival or hospitalization rates in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. Further clinical trials are needed to determine if any benefits may be expected from vitamin E supplementation in people with liver cirrhosis. |
References
1. Beers MH, Berkow R (eds). The Merck Manual, 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1999, 372-4.
2. Halsted CH. Alcohol: medical and nutritional effects. In Ziegler EE, Filer LJ (eds). Present Knowledge in Nutrition, 7th ed. ILSI Press, Washington, DC, 1996, 553.
3. Roggin GM, Iber FL, Kater RM, Tabon F. Malabsorption in the chronic alcoholic. Johns Hopkins Med J 1969;125:321-30.
4. Roggin GM, Iber FL, Linscheer WG. Intraluminal fat digestion in the chronic alcoholic. Gut 1972;13:107-11.
5. Luca A, Garcia-Pagan JC, Bosch J, et al. Effects of ethanol consumption on hepatic hemodynamics in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Gastroenterology 1997;112:1284-9.
Last Review: 03-24-2015
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