Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffNo alternative medicine treatments have been found to be helpful in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Vitamins for liver protection
Researchers have studied vitamin supplements for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but results have been disappointing. In theory, vitamins called antioxidants could help protect the liver by reducing or neutralizing the damage caused by inflammation. But studies of vitamin supplements haven't supported this.
The safest way to increase the antioxidants you get is to eat more fruits and vegetables. If you're interested in vitamin supplements, though, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks. Large doses of vitamin supplements could interfere with medications or cause other complications.
- Feldstein AE, et al. Fatty liver disease. The American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/fld.asp. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/nafld/. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
- Reid AE. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/index.htm. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
- Musso G, et al. A meta-analysis of randomized trials for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2010;52:79.

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