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The 6 Best Liver Supplements to Support Detoxification and Liver Function
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- Overall Best Liver Support Supplement: Ancient Nutrition Liver Cleanse
- Best Liver Supplement for Fatty Liver: Elixinol Liver Love
- Best Affordable Liver Health Supplement: HUM Wingman
- Best Short-Term Liver Detox Supplement: Gaia Herbs Liver Cleanse
- Best Liver Support Tincture: Mountain Rose Herbs Liver Care Extract
- Best Liver Supplement for Alcohol Drinkers: Cheers Protect
- Liver Detoxification 101
- Liver Supplement FAQs
Our modern world has become increasingly rife with toxins—from the polluted air we breathe to the cleaning products we use to the alcohol, medications, and pesticides we consume, we are constantly exposed to various environmental toxins that need to be processed and eliminated.
Although our bodies are naturally equipped with built-in detoxification systems—primarily our liver and kidneys but also our digestive system, lungs, and skin—there are plenty of ways we can support these pathways to do their jobs better.
Fortunately, many plant-based compounds, herbs, vitamins, and minerals can facilitate these natural detoxification processes.
While you probably shouldn’t trust anything that touts a “quick fix liver detox” or claims that you’ll also lose weight and have clear skin overnight, there are some reliable and effective supplements out there that support detoxification and healthy liver function—keep reading to learn more about our six picks for the best liver supplements on the market.
| Best Overall | for Fatty Liver | Best Affordable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Liver Supplements | Ancient Nutrition | Elixinol | HUM |
| Key Ingredients | Milk thistle; dandelion; beetroot | Artichoke leaf; bergamot fruit | Milk thistle; dandelion; artichoke |
| Cost | $29.95 for 30 servings ($1.00/serving) Shop Now | $39.99 for 15 servings ($2.67/serving) Shop Now | $26 for 30 servings ($0.87/serving Shop Now |
Best for: Anyone looking for a liver support supplement that helps with detoxification and inflammation.
Ancient Nutrition Liver Cleanse is one of the best liver supplements, as it’s a high-quality supplement with a handful of ingredients known to support optimal liver function and help with detoxification pathways, including organic milk thistle extract and dandelion root.
Milk thistle is one of the most commonly used ingredients in liver supplements—and with good reason, as research shows that the plant can help with fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis and protect the liver from environmental toxins.
The primary beneficial compounds in milk thistle are silymarin and silybin, which are anti-inflammatory antioxidants that scavenge for free radicals that can damage liver cells.
Ancient Nutrition Liver Cleanse also contains dandelion root, beetroot, and bupleurum root, which have been shown to prevent hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), reduce oxidative damage, and reduce liver enzymes, respectively.
Plus, it has reishi mushroom for immune support and the digestive enzyme lipase to facilitate digestion and nutrient absorption.
We also love that Ancient Nutrition uses organic fermented versions of these plant-based compounds to increase your body’s ability to absorb and utilize them.
Best for: People with fatty liver looking to support healthier liver fat levels.
Elixinol Liver Love only has two active ingredients—but they are clinically researched compounds that are beneficial for fatty liver.
The two compounds are combined into a patented blend called BergacynFF®, containing artichoke leaf extract and bergamot citrus fruit that have been studied for their role in lowering liver fat levels and promoting a healthy weight.
In a clinical trial published in 2020, adults with fatty liver disease who supplemented with BergacynFF® had greater reductions in liver fat content than those taking a placebo.
In addition to using clinically backed ingredients, Elixinol Liver Love utilizes microencapsulated beadlet technology that increases bioavailability.
However, this supplement only has 15 servings per container and is already expensive for that half-month dose, making a full month of this supplement even pricier.
Best for: People looking for an affordable liver support supplement that may also reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
HUM Wingman is an affordable option for a liver support supplement, containing a combination of silymarin from milk thistle extract, dandelion root, and artichoke leaf.
This trio of ingredients is excellent for liver health, supporting detoxification pathways and promoting bile flow for improved liver function.
It also claims to help reduce dark circles under the eyes—a symptom indicative of poor liver function and seen in 20% of people with liver disease.
Therefore, the theory behind HUM Wingman is that improving liver health may also reduce dark circles.
However, reviews are mixed on this front—many people don’t see an effect on undereye circles, or if they do, it takes several months to notice a difference.
Best for: People looking for a short-term liver supplement to facilitate detoxification or help to lower liver enzymes.
Gaia Herbs Liver Cleanse is a potent supplement with 14 bioactive compounds thought to support liver function, facilitate detoxification, and reduce inflammation.
Some of the key organic ingredients include:
- Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound in turmeric well known for reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
- Milk thistle is a plant that may reduce symptoms of fatty liver disease and inflammation and protect the liver from environmental toxins.
- Dandelion root is a bitter weed that stimulates bile production and reduces inflammation.
- Artichoke leaf enhances glutathione production, reduces oxidative damage to liver cells, and may lower liver enzymes.
- Yellow dock is a bitter plant rich in glycosides—compounds known for their hepatoprotective properties (protecting the liver).
- Burdock root is an herb shown to benefit nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and reduce liver fat levels.
- Black radish is a bitter plant commonly used in traditional Chinese and Mexican therapeutic practices, as it is high in sulfur compounds that benefit the enzymes needed for phase I and II liver detoxification.
This combination of ingredients is a powerful mix of inflammation-lowering and hepatoprotective compounds that help the liver remove waste products and toxins.
Many of these herbs and plants are bitter, which support liver health by stimulating toxin elimination and bile production to facilitate digestion.
Gaia sources their herbs and plants from regeneratively grown farms or organic agroforestry settings—for example, the artichoke, burdock root, and black radish are Regenerative Organic Silver Certified from Gaia Herbs’ farm in North Carolina.
However, it’s not designed to be taken forever—Gaia recommends taking their liver cleanse supplement daily (one capsule, twice a day) for 3 to 4 months at the most when your liver needs an extra boost.
Best for: People looking for a liver supplement but don’t want to take pills.
Mountain Rose Herbs Liver Care Extract is an excellent choice for a tincture form of liver support.
With ingredients like organic milk thistle seed, schisandra berry, turmeric root, yellow dock root, dandelion root, and Oregon grape root, this tincture has a variety of ingredients designed to support liver detoxification and function.
We’ve already mentioned most of these compounds except for Schisandra berry and Oregon grape root.
Schisandra berry is known for protecting against liver injury and fatty liver, while Oregon grape root is a source of berberine, which supports metabolic processes and has been shown to improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and overall liver function.
This tincture is affordable, at $14.50 per ounce—however, the serving size is not shown on their website, so we don’t know how many drops should be taken at once.
Best for: People who drink alcohol and want to support their liver health and facilitate alcohol detoxification.
Cheers Protect is a realistic brand—they know that many people drink alcohol, and they want to provide a supplement that can help you process it more efficiently and mitigate some of the damage.
In addition to the most commonly seen liver-supporting ingredient—milk thistle—Cheers Protect also contains:
- Micronutrients: Contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, and E to support liver detoxification pathways and replenish essential nutrients commonly depleted from alcohol consumption.
- L-cysteine is a precursor to glutathione—our body’s master antioxidant that is temporarily reduced after drinking alcohol. Lower glutathione means that alcohol metabolism and elimination are less efficient (commonly causing hangovers). L-cysteine is also a component of NAC (N-acetyl cysteine).
- Ginger and prickly pear: These plants act as antioxidants and reduce oxidative damage in liver cells.
- DHM: Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a potent natural extract that helps the body process alcohol more efficiently.
Overall, Cheers Protect is a highly beneficial supplement for any alcohol drinker looking to support their liver health and help with alcohol detoxification. (But keep in mind that responsible drinking is recommended—binge drinking will still damage your liver no matter how many supplements you throw at it!)
Liver Detoxification 101
The liver is the body’s primary source of detoxification, a process involving two phases that process and eliminate harmful compounds.
The phase I detoxification pathway is the first line of defense against toxins that enter the body, mainly using a group of enzymes called the cytochrome P450 family that convert fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble intermediary compounds through oxidation.
Although this mechanism does begin the process of breaking down harmful toxins, it also introduces free radicals, which can cause oxidative damage.
Therefore, we want to increase antioxidant intake to protect the liver from further damage.
Phase II of the detoxification process involves taking those potentially harmful intermediary compounds and conjugating them into other compounds, leading to excretion through urine, bile, or stool.
This phase requires amino acids, sulfur, glutathione, and some vitamins and minerals that can enhance this process and act as cofactors, including vitamins B6 and B12, selenium, molybdenum, folate, and magnesium.
Incompletion of either phase can lead to toxic compounds accumulating in the fatty tissues, brain, or nervous system.
One key factor that regulates the detoxification and antioxidant pathways is the transcription factor Nrf2, which can be activated by polyphenolic compounds, such as ginger, resveratrol, turmeric, berries, and rosemary.
Liver Supplement FAQs
Who Should Not Take Liver Supplements?
Many ingredients in liver supplements have not been well studied in all populations, so they are typically not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding people.
Milk thistle may also cause an allergic reaction in people sensitive to the Asteraceae (Ragweed) plant family and may lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.
If you’re unsure about taking a liver support supplement, ask your doctor first.
What Is the Best Supplement For Liver Health?
Some of the best supplements for liver health include:
• Ancient Nutrition Liver Cleanse
• Elixinol Liver Love
• HUM Wingman
• Gaia Herbs Liver Cleanse
• Mountain Rose Herbs Liver Care Extract
• Cheers Protect
Do Liver Supplements Actually Work?
It depends. If you have a liver disease (including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/hepatic steatosis, hepatitis, chronic liver disease, or elevated liver enzymes), you may find more success with liver supplements than people with healthy livers. Some research has shown that the ingredients commonly found in liver supplements benefit people (or animals) with these conditions. If you are deficient in certain vitamins, drink alcohol often, or take medications, liver supplements may be able to help facilitate your body’s natural detoxification processes.
Does Milk Thistle Help the Liver?
Research shows that milk thistle may help with fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis and protect the liver from environmental toxins.
The primary beneficial compounds in milk thistle are called silymarin and silybin, which are anti-inflammatory and act as antioxidants to scavenge for free radicals that can damage the liver.
While milk thistle appears to be a safe compound, it has not been widely tested in all populations.
How Can I Restore My Liver Fast?
Fortunately, the liver is an organ that can repair itself relatively quickly. If you want to help restore your liver health, you can stop drinking alcohol, drink lots of water, consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, limit over-the-counter medications like Advil and Tylenol, exercise, and possibly take a liver support supplement.
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