Tumeric

[Smokyquartz]

Hi I was diagnosed with moderate liver fibrosis (ELF blood test result 8.8) 2 months ago. I was wondering if it is OK to take tumeric supplements ( I had been taking them previously) and are there any other vitamins/supplements that would be good to take for the liver, eg milk thistle, vitamin d, etc in addition to dieting and stopping alcohol which I have done. I don't want to make it any worse than it already is. Thanks

[AyrshireK]

It's best to just control your NAFLD with healthy diet and exercise - some so called supplementary and alternative remedies can potentially be more damaging to your liver. Tumeric has a number of potential side effects - stomach issues, blood thinning, risk of kidney stones, can interact with some medications. No need for milk thistle or anything of that ilk.

BLT advise the following regarding Complementary and alternative therapies. britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

BLT advice on NAFLD and how to treat it at :- britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

britishlivertrust.org.uk/do...

Katie

[Smokyquartz in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you Katie for the advice and signposting. I am finding exercise difficult at the moment as I am so tired, but trying to get out walking. Thanks

[Grassroots112]

Hi there and sorry for your diagnosis. I’d be wary of taking any supplements with liver disease full stop, but if you do please run everything past your doctor first because some can do more damage to the liver than any good and I’d also seek some advice about nutrition and diet as well if you can so as to get some knowledge on liver friendly food and maybe some ideas about natural food sources that will actually help your liver heal.

I know turmeric and ginger for example have many many health benefits in general and I have been actively using both ingredients in my diet almost daily in the form of making my own turmeric and ginger shots which I sometimes add to my own herbal teas as well as food.

I believe ginger and turmeric has aided in the healing of my own liver, but I choose to add such ingredients to my diet only on the advice of my hep and gastro doctors who said they were fine for me, what is fine for me may not be fine for you, however, so again, run everything by your doctor. Certain spices, herbs and other foods may effect medication for example and a lot of people with liver disease are on medication.

I was told in no uncertain terms, though, that any over the counter supplements or so-called liver friendly herbs or medicine was a massive no no. Milk thistle for example, my hep doctor told me NO, and if I wanted to take milk thistle, do so in natural form and not in some man made capsule form, same with artichoke which like milk thistle I was lead to believe is good for the liver so naturally I spent a small fortune on buying a tub or two full of capsules, which my doctor told me I was silly for wasting my money and to bin them, which I did…

Liver fibrosis is also liver scarring, but can be reversed or healed, I went from likely decompensated cirrhosis to what they are now stating is likely moderate fibrosis, mine was caused through alcohol misuse. Good luck and take care.

[Smokyquartz in reply to Grassroots112]

Hi Thank you for the advice. My GP didn't give me any information, just said to make lifestyle choices and it came as a shock. I appreciate your advice, it makes sense to me not to take any supplements that may put more pressure on my liver. I'm pleased that you have made progress. Take care yourself too! Thanks again.

[Grassroots112]

Hi and yeah, sadly many get sent home by a doctor and told to never drink again, don’t eat junk food and exercise or lose weight and that’s about it, where liver disease is concerned, however, because it’s so complicated with numerous and different types it effects everyone differently so what works for one may not work for everyone.

I personally felt my own liver disease and symptoms needed micro managed which of course my hospital or doctors couldn’t do so I had to learn an awful loft about the liver, liver disease, MY liver disease which is alcohol, nutrition, diet etc.

As such I’m pretty confident I know a good deal now probably more than my own GP so I can now manage my own liver disease in a way that keeps me out of the hospital, keeps me healthy or healthy as can be and even in ways that improve my liver which is what I’ve been doing since I was discharged from hospital with ascites, jaundice etc.

The biggest thing for people with liver disease caused by alcohol is to quit drinking and to never drink again of course, but I learned it goes way beyond that. I had to change my diet, I had to look at what exercise I can do and most importantly what foods are good for my liver and body and what isn’t and that’s been a game changer for me in terms of not just my liver, but my all-round health.

In my hospital bed I bought lots of so-called liver and gut health and well being stuff from Holland and Barrett (a health chain here in the U.K. if you’re not from here) partly to show my doctor how serious I now was about my health and to also start myself on the path to good health, and that’s when he told me to bin the lot which I did and I’m glad I did because frankly its not even pseudo science, it’s a scam mainly and terrifying because millions of people buy these potentially dangerous products.

But that pales into insignificance to the dangers that can be found and bought in our supermarket shelves and freezers and that’s key to fixing liver disease, your diet. May I recommend a health food phone/tablet app called Yuka, it allows you to scan the barcodes of food products at the supermarket and reveals what’s healthy and what’s not and also provides information on what each food contains in terms of any good or nasty ingredients, sugar and sodium levels, fat levels etc. it’s an amazing app that has helped me massively in learning what kind of foods I need to eat and what I don’t. It also provides healthier alternatives to any you scan that score low on the app.

Take care.

[Smokyquartz in reply to Grassroots112]

Hi Yes I am in the UK too and had been researching what vitamins/ supplements may help. I paid for a private ultrasound as I knew there was something and I was suffering from really bad fatigue. Nothing was coming up in any blood tests. Liver function was fine but ultrasound scan showed liver was bright. I shared the results with the GP who then did an ELF blood test and this showed fatty liver, moderate fibrosis. There was no mention of what caused it, although I used to drink and I am a couple of stone overweight. Maybe its a combination of both, but I gave alcohol up immediately and have been dieting. Thanks for the advice about the app, I will definitely look into that. As you say, it's not easy and what works for one person may not for another. At least I know to ditch any tumeric or supplements. Thanks

[Grassroots112 in reply to Smokyquartz]

Hi, well it seems you’re on the right path now anyway in terms of quitting the booze and looking at your diet, again a fatty liver can heal and certainly be reversed which I’m sure you will have success in achieving, all the best, happy new year and take care.

[Smokyquartz in reply to Grassroots112]

Thank you. Yes, Happy New Year to you too. And thanks for the support it's very much appreciated.

[Benwillfred]

I was advised to drink full caffeine coffee and take vitamins B D and E.this was by my consultant

[Smokyquartz in reply to Benwillfred]

Thanks for this.

[Orangutan_lover]

Hi sorry for your diagnosis, I’m 100% behind the Yuka app, I love it and it as helped me so much to make the right choices, Take care

[Smokyquartz in reply to Orangutan_lover]

Thankyou. I have downloaded it now and think it will really help me. This group is so supportive I feel better already.

[Readlots]

My consultant prescribed Vitamin D and calcium because of the link between liver disease and osteoporosis.

Have you had your thyroid checked? That can contribute to the fatigue and is easily treated with thyroxine.

[Smokyquartz in reply to Readlots]

Hi Thanks. I already take Evocal D3 for calcium levels as my calcium levels were low previously. I didn't realise there was a link. Yes thyroid was fine but I am waiting results of a sleep apnea test so I am thinking that might be causing the fatigue.

[Readlots in reply to Smokyquartz]

It could be. Hopefully they’ll get to the bottom of it

[islandanonymous]

My doctor also told me to take Vitamin D and calcium. I usually mix a little turmeric into my oatmeal which I often have for breakfast. I wouldn't take any other supplements though.