Vitamins for a fatty liver disease diet have been a topic of debate when it comes to the best way to reduce fat in your liver. Some vitamins and minerals are great for the liver in certain quantities, but can be extremely harmful in excess. Others can be beneficial and liver friendly, but they can harm other areas of the body. So which vitamins, minerals, and supplements, if any, should be taken along with a fatty liver diet?
Most experts agree certain vitamins and minerals are liver friendly and help to improve liver function. In her ebook, “Fatty Liver Diet Guide”, veteran liver nurse, Dorothy Spencer, points out 6 such vitamins and minerals. These are:
Folate (folic acid) which improves liver function and can be found in foods like leafy vegetables and citrus fruits. Vitamin B complexes (including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, and cobalamine) which are involved in protein metabolism. Vitamin K which aids in synthesizing prothrombin. Manganese and selenium which help activate and/or speed up some of the enzymes needed for both fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Sulfur which aids in the formation of B vitamins. Vitamin C and vitamin E which are showing potential as fatty liver treatments due to their antioxidant capabilities which can slow hepatic cellular deterioration.
The important thing to remember when using vitamins and minerals as part of a diet for reducing FLD is that excessive consumption can be harmful not only to the liver, but also to other areas of the body. For example, vitamin K can cause liver damage in large amounts and excessive niacin (vitamin B3) can encourage the liver to digest more fat which adds to the problem for fatty liver patients.
Biotin should be avoided as it can increase the production of fatty acids. Likewise, too many amino acids can lead to other conditions, sometimes as severe as brain damage. It is not recommended to take supplements of vitamins A and vitamin D since these are often stored in fat deposits and, therefore, are in ample supply in a fat congested liver.
Most vitamins and minerals can be obtained in ample quantities through a diet plan consisting of specific fatty liver diet recipes aimed at improving liver function.
