Although millions of people take supplements, there is often uncertainty about their potential health benefits and risks. Additionally, unlike drugs, herbal supplements are classified as foods and are not subject to safety testing. Nonetheless, when taken at appropriate doses, certain supplements have been demonstrated to regulate liver fat composition.
A study conducted in 2022 by scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore revealed that B12 and folic acid supplements have the potential to reverse the mechanisms implicated in advanced fatty liver disease. Based on these results, researchers propose that individuals suffering from fatty liver disease could benefit from these supplements.
According to Doctor Madhylika Tripathi, the primary author of the study, the accumulation of fat in the liver is reversible during its initial stages. However, as it advances to NASH, it results in liver malfunction, cirrhosis, and elevates the risk of liver cancer.
The study’s results, published in the Journal of Hepatology, demonstrated a significant correlation between vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation and increased syntaxin 17 levels in the liver. Furthermore, the research indicated that this supplementation was effective in reversing liver inflammation and fibrosis.
The results, according to Dr. Tripathi, “are both exciting and important because they suggest that a relatively inexpensive therapy, vitamin B12 and folic acid, could be used to prevent and/or delay the progression of NASH.”
Professor Paul M. Yen, who heads the Laboratory of Hormonal Regulation at Duke-NUS’ Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders Program, and serves as the senior author of the study, remarked that utilizing vitamin B12 and folate supplements could lead to substantial cost savings and alleviate the health burden posed by NASH in both developed and developing nations.
In a 2018 study published in the Biology and Sex journal, Louisiana State University discovered comparable results regarding the effectiveness of tarragon and bitter melon supplements.
Although tarragon and bitter melon supplements were shown to increase glucose production in female mice, the study revealed that these supplements could effectively decrease the fat content in their livers. Maintaining low fat levels is crucial in preventing complications such as fatty liver disease. However, the research also indicated that female mice fed a high-fat diet and given Russian tarragon and bitter melon supplements gained more weight and body fat than those solely on a high-fat diet.
The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body by removing potentially harmful toxins. However, this crucial function can be hindered by fatty cells. When fatty cells comprise five to ten percent of the liver’s weight, it can lead to hepatic steatosis, which can result in severe health complications.
While tarragon has a long-standing reputation for lowering blood sugar levels and reducing inflammation and pain, the findings from the mouse study suggest that the effects may not be consistent across genders.
In contrast to males, females did not exhibit enhanced insulin sensitivity, and the data indicates that their livers may respond to the tarragon extract by producing more blood sugar. The authors observed a decrease in insulin and leptin secretions in females, as well as an increase in body weight.
Overall, these findings suggest that the supplements may be less effective for females than males in addressing metabolic syndrome.
However, it is crucial to note that using supplements incorrectly can pose significant risks to certain individuals. When taken within the recommended dosage range, vitamins are rarely associated with severe adverse effects.
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