Liver injury is at the core of many health issues I observe in clients. When the liver cannot function properly, all body systems suffer since the liver plays a crucial role in influencing overall body function.
While the signs of severe liver injury are listed below, it’s essential to recognize that liver damage can manifest in less obvious ways. These effects may develop slowly over days, weeks, or months, making it challenging to trace them back to a specific supplement or drug.
Signs of Liver Injury:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Bruising or bleeding easily
Cholestasis, a subset of liver injuries, is particularly concerning. It occurs when bile thickens and stalls in the biliary tract, a condition often referred to as biliary stasis or sluggish bile flow. This common issue significantly hampers your detoxification system, leading to various health problems, including:
- Chronic fatigue
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- SIBO, IBS, and other gut issues
- Estrogen dominance
- Mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression)
- Poor detoxification
Liver injury can also be exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies, particularly a lack of high-quality animal protein and zinc insufficiency.
Supplements Linked to Liver Injury
After reviewing the latest supplement research, here are some common supplements with varying likelihood scores of causing liver injury:
- Ashwagandha: Likelihood score: C (probable cause of clinically apparent liver injury)
- Kava Kava: Likelihood score: A (well-known cause of liver injury)
- Green Tea: Likelihood score: A (established cause of liver injury)
- Black Cohosh: Likelihood score: A (well-established cause, though the specific component causing injury is unclear)
- Aloe Vera: Likelihood score: B (likely but rare cause)
- Garcinia Cambogia: Likelihood score: B (likely rare cause)
- Hydroxycut: Likelihood score: B (likely cause)
- Comfrey: Likelihood score: C (probable cause when taken orally due to sinusoidal obstruction syndrome)
- Valerian: Likelihood score: C (probable rare cause)
- Turmeric: Likelihood score: B (likely rare cause)
- Kratom: Likelihood score: B (likely cause)
- Skullcap: Likelihood score: B (likely but rare cause)
- Ba Jiao Lian: Likelihood score: B (likely cause)
- Noni: Likelihood score: C (probable rare cause)
- Iron: Likelihood score: A[H] (established cause, especially in high doses)
- Vitamin A: Likelihood score: A[H] (established cause in high doses)
- Energy Drinks: Likelihood score: C[H] (probable rare cause in high amounts)
- Niacin (B3): Likelihood score: A[HD] (known cause in high doses)
- Copper: Likelihood score: A[HD] (known cause in high doses)
Common Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
The following drugs, often overlooked in their impact on liver health, are also potential contributors to liver injury, particularly with prolonged use:
- Ibuprofen: Likelihood score: A (rare but known cause)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Likelihood score: A[HD] (known cause in high doses)
- Aspirin: Likelihood score: A[HD] (known cause in high doses)
- Birth Control Pills: Likelihood score: A (known cause)
- Antidepressants:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac): Likelihood score: C (probable cause)
- Citalopram (Celexa): Likelihood score: C (probable cause)
- Sertraline (Zoloft): Likelihood score: B (likely but rare cause)
- Antibiotics:
- Amoxicillin: Likelihood score: B (likely but rare cause)
- Azithromycin: Likelihood score: A (rare but known cause)
- Amoxicillin and Clavulanate: Likelihood score: A (well-established cause)
- Cephalosporin: Likelihood score: B (likely but rare cause)
If you regularly take any of the above, they may be contributing to your health symptoms, especially if you’ve experienced ‘mysterious’ symptoms that have eluded diagnosis. The more frequently you’ve taken these substances, the higher the likelihood of encountering these side effects.
Liver Testing
If you suspect liver impairment, testing can be a valuable tool to gather more information. Consider the following general labs:
- Comprehensive metabolic panel markers (AST, ALT, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
- Nutrient blood labs (vitamin A, iron, copper)
- Other blood labs (GGT)
- Liver/gallbladder ultrasound to investigate biliary stasis and fatty liver
Need Help Supporting Your Liver?
Sometimes, getting healthy is about avoiding what harms you. Overdoing it with ‘health foods’ and supplements can lead to catastrophic effects. If you need help with liver health, consider consulting a healthcare professional or exploring a liver health masterclass.