If you are experiencing belly bloat, fatigue, and brain fog, the likely culprit may be more than just an overindulgent meal or a particular food sensitivity. Your liver may be to blame.
The liver performs hundreds of essential functions in the body, including storing glucose from the food you eat, producing bile for the digestion of fats, and filtering harmful toxins out of the blood before they cause damage to other vital organs. Unfortunately, the carbohydrate-heavy Western diet and our modern sedentary lifestyles can cause fatty tissue to build up inside the liver, resulting in inflammation which limits the organ's ability to perform these crucial tasks.
A combination of diet, exercise, and a well-rounded supplement can assist your liver's natural ability to flush out toxins and fat, helping to relieve abdominal fullness, boost energy levels, and improve mental clarity.
How Can You Tell a Good Liver Supplement from a Bad One?
Recent studies suggest that at least 1 in 4 people worldwide struggles with these issues, and this trend is only continuing to accelerate. Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that public demand for liver support supplements is growing rapidly.
And yet, not all supplements are created equal. The fast-growing market for liver support products has lured many companies to release ineffective supplements containing filler ingredients with little or no proof of efficacy. That's why our staff decided to review all the most popular liver health formulas today and evaluate them for safety and effectiveness. We will show you what to look for, what to avoid, and which products we determined to be the best.
In our analysis, we noticed a number of companies claiming a wide variety of health benefits from using their products, not all of which are likely. What kind of results can you realistically expect from a liver support supplement?
When Will You See Results?
While the ingredients in most liver health formulas often begin to help detoxify the body after the first dose, even the best supplements cannot provide immediate results. Like cleaning a clogged filter, it takes some time to flush out harmful toxins and fats.
Research suggests that 3 months of daily use helps significantly increase the likelihood of lasting improvement. Here is a reasonable timeline to expect:
- Month 1: You may notice less indigestion and abdominal distension as inflammation begins to moderate.
- Month 2: You may sense an increase in your energy level and feel your clothes fit you better as belly bloat subsides.
- Month 3: Maximum liver support is reached. You may experience long-lasting improvement in digestion, stable weight management, and greater mental clarity.
Tip: For best results, focus on consistency. Adding an effective liver support supplement to your daily routine for at least 3 months promotes exponential improvement, as each dose builds on the benefits of the last.
So, what characteristics distinguish top-tier liver health products from the rest of the pack?
The 5 Must-Have Ingredients for a Good Liver Supplement
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N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
N-acetyl cysteine is a precursor to the powerful antioxidant glutathione, which helps neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that cause inflammation and fatty buildup in the liver. In addition, NAC has been shown to play a pivotal role in promoting your liver's natural ability to filter toxins from the blood. In this way, this essential compound offers the dual purpose of liver protection and detoxification.
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Milk Thistle
Milk thistle contains compounds collectively known as silymarin, a group of flavonoids which have been shown to protect liver cells from toxic substances. Like NAC, milk thistle is a strong antioxidant that supports healthy liver function by defending against oxidative stress. Keep in mind, however, that not all milk thistle has the same level of silymarin content. Look for milk thistle standardized to at least 70% silymarin.
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Choline
Choline is an essential nutrient naturally present in meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs. One critically important role of this compound is to transport fats out of the liver, thus avoiding lipid buildup within healthy tissue. Due to dietary restrictions, vegetarians and vegans are particularly at risk of a deficiency.
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Dandelion
Dandelions are rich in antioxidants, which help protect the liver against free radical damage and the inflammation that follows. In addition, it supports the production of bile, which aids in the efficient digestion of fats and their expulsion from the body. Look for formulas which contain dandelion root rather than an extract of the entire plant, as the root has a higher concentration of liver-cleansing compounds.
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Artichoke
Like milk thistle, artichoke contains silymarin and another similar compound called cynarin. While these antioxidants help promote optimal liver function, other compounds help improve bile flow to flush toxins out of the body. Artichoke leaf extracts are rich in liver-protective flavonoids, while extracts of the stem and root are less so.
Perhaps even more important, there are certain red flags to be wary of when evaluating a liver support supplement.
Warning Signs of Potential Scams
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Lack of Clinical Studies
Be wary of companies that cite the clinical efficacy of individual ingredients within a product rather than the effectiveness of the product as a whole. The highest indicator of quality in a supplement is the commission of a placebo-controlled clinical study for safety and effectiveness by an independent third party. You expect the same high standard of research and testing before trusting a medication, so why would you not do the same before trusting a supplement?
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Filler Ingredients
There are very few natural ingredients for healthy liver function that are both potent and safe for consumption. Other herbs and compounds billed as liver-protective have little clinical evidence to back their effectiveness. Watch out for supplements that include an extensive list of ingredients to create the illusion of comprehensive support. More is not necessarily better when it comes to your health. Some of the supplements we reviewed contained more than 10 unique ingredients!
Top 5 Liver Support Supplements of 2024
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the top liver health products available today, which provides a summary of our research and analysis:
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| Key Ingredients | |||||
| N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Milk Thistle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Choline | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Dandelion | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Artichoke | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Proof of Efficacy | |||||
| Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| No Filler Ingredients | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Other Considerations | |||||
| No Artificial Additives | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Non-GMO | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gluten-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Made in a GMP-Certified Laboratory | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Made in the USA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Below, we break down our rankings and feature detailed reviews of the 5 best liver support products we analyzed, beginning with our top pick.
Pros
- Clinically tested against placebo by independent third party
- 90% of study participants reported reduced abdominal bloating within 2 weeks*
- Contains all 5 must-have ingredients
- No fillers or artificial additives
- Vegetarian, non-GMO, and gluten-free
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Available online, but not currently sold in retail stores
The Bottom Line
We gave Hepagard by Nutreance our #1 ranking because it is the only liver health supplement that meets every one of our strict criteria.
Hepagard was clinically tested for safety and effectiveness over the course of 30 days in a placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted by Princeton Consumer Research. The study showed that people taking Hepagard saw significant improvements in abdominal bloating, fatigue, and energy levels compared with placebo. (Click here for the complete study results).
Hepagard contains all 5 of the ingredients we consider essential for optimal liver support, including N-acetyl cysteine, milk thistle standardized to 80% silymarin, choline bitartrate, dandelion root, and artichoke leaf. It is also produced in a GMP-certified laboratory in New York.
It is available on Amazon.com, but we found significantly better discounts on Nutreance's website. The company also offers other products for improving digestion, including blood sugar support, a digestive enzyme formula, and a probiotic.
Overall, Hepagard is our top pick for liver health in 2024.
Click here to visit the product website.
* Results may vary and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using this product. Please visit product website for more information.
Pros
- Contains 4 out of 5 must-have ingredients
- No fillers or artificial additives
- Available in 2 sizes
- Vegetarian, non-GMO, and gluten-free
- Made in the USA
Cons
- No clinical study
- Does not contain N-acetyl cysteine
- Milk thistle only standardized to 58% silymarin
The Bottom Line
PhytoCore by Ortho Molecular Products provides effective liver support with a strong cast of ingredients that features 4 of the primary components that we look for in a quality liver supplement: milk thistle, choline bitartrate, dandelion root, and artichoke leaf.
The formula is free from fillers and additives. It is made in the USA and available in 2 different sizes, one for trial purposes and a discount volume pack.
Unfortunately, the formula does not include N-acetyl cysteine, which is one of the most powerful ingredients for helping to detoxify the liver and protect against fatty buildup. The milk thistle in the formula is also only standardized to contain 58% silymarin, which is below the preferred level of 70% or above.
They have not tested the product for safety and effectiveness in a placebo-controlled clinical study. Finally, a minor quibble, the inclusion of garlic has the potential to cause unwanted body odor or bad breath in some individuals.
Click here to visit the product website.
* Results may vary and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using this product. Please visit product website for more information.
3. AdvaClear by Metagenics
Pros
- Contains 3 out of 5 must-have ingredients
- No artificial additives
- Available in 2 sizes
- Vegetarian, non-GMO, and gluten-free
- Made in the USA
Cons
- No clinical study
- Does not contain choline or dandelion
- Slightly larger than average size capsule
- Contains beneficial vitamins and minerals, but they may conflict with a daily multivitamin
The Bottom Line
AdvaClear by Metagenics includes 3 core liver-cleansing ingredients: N-acetyl cysteine, silymarin from milk thistle, and artichoke leaf. The supplement is also fortified by a wide array of beneficial vitamins and minerals.
It is manufactured in the USA and sold in 2 different sizes, including a 3 week supply bottle and larger 9 week supply bottle.
AdvaClear does not contain choline or dandelion root, both of which are critical to help flush harmful toxins and fats out of the liver. It also has not been evaluated for efficacy in a clinical study.
While the vitamins and minerals in this formula can improve liver health, most modern diets already contain sufficient quantities to maintain proper liver function. Moreover, if you are taking a daily multivitamin, taking AdvaClear in addition may result in higher than recommended consumption of certain vitamins and minerals. Their inclusion has also resulted in a large capsule size, which may be of concern for people who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Click here to visit the product website.
* Results may vary and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using this product. Please visit product website for more information.
4. Liver Protect by Xymogen
Pros
- Contains 2 out of 5 must-have ingredients, but they are the most powerful
- No fillers or artificial additives
- Available in 2 sizes
- Vegetarian, non-GMO, and gluten-free
- Made in the USA
Cons
- No clinical study
- Does not contain choline, dandelion, or artichoke
The Bottom Line
Liver Protect by Xymogen features 2 of the most essential ingredients for effective liver detox, N-acetyl cysteine and milk thistle, plus 2 other beneficial compounds for liver and metabolic health. The milk thistle in the formula is standardized to 30% silybins, rather than 70% silymarin, but this is not an issue. Silybin makes up between 50 to 70% of the silymarin flavonoid complex and is primarily responsible for its health benefits.
Made in the USA, Liver Protect is free from artificial fillers or additives. Xymogen takes food allergens seriously, as this product is formulated to exclude gluten, yeast, soy, nuts, and animal and dairy products.
On the downside, the product does not contain choline, dandelion, or artichoke, which are important antioxidants for a comprehensive approach for liver health. More importantly, the product's claims have not been verified by an independent, third-party clinical study.
Click here to visit the product website.
* Results may vary and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using this product. Please visit product website for more information.
Pros
- Contains 2 out of 5 must-have ingredients
- No artificial additives
- Non-GMO and gluten-free
- Made in the USA
Cons
- No clinical study
- Does not contain N-acetyl cysteine, choline, or dandelion
- Contains some ingredients without sufficient evidence of efficacy
- Not vegetarian
The Bottom Line
LV-GB Complex by Designs for Health contains milk thistle and artichoke leaf, both crucial to help protect the liver from lipid buildup, as well as several other vitamins and nutrients. The milk thistle in the formula is standardized to 80% silymarin, above the preferred minimum of 70%, while the artichoke leaf is standardized to 5% cynarin, the flavonoid complex responsible for artichoke's liver-cleansing properties.
Free from artificial additives, LV-GB Complex is manufactured the USA exclusively with non-GMO ingredients. It is also tested and confirmed to be gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.
On the other hand, the product has not been tested in a clinical study and is missing 3 of our 5 must-have ingredients for a well-rounded liver support formula. Instead, it includes a vitamin complex, beet powder, and L-methionine, among other nutrients. While not harmful, there is limited evidence confirming effectiveness of these ingredients for liver health. Lastly, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, take note that the product contains ox bile.
Click here to visit the product website.
* Results may vary and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using this product. Please visit product website for more information.