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Liver Detox Supplements: An Overview

Article Summary:

  • Various plant-derived ingredients are known for their hepatoprotective effects and are widely used in liver detox supplement formulations.* 
  • Not all detox supplement formulations exert the same effects because of the poor bioavailability and absorption of their active nutrients, which adversely impacts efficacy. 
  • Tesseract’s innovative nutrient delivery technology enables targeted delivery of active nutrients for optimal absorption.*

The liver is the body’s primary detoxification site for eliminating toxic substances from the system, metabolizing nutrients and medications, and filtering and detoxifying the blood. However, this vital organ needs detoxification, too. Various plants, such as artichoke extract, turmeric, dandelion root, cinnamon, chicory, burdock, licorice, and milk thistle, are known to exert hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, antioxidants, such as glutathione, are produced by the body and work synergistically with a wide variety of enzymes to regulate the liver’s complex detoxification pathways. 

Liver detox supplements are often a complementary and alternative approach to support liver health.* Most liver detox supplements contain a blend of botanical ingredients and antioxidant compounds that promote optimal hepatic functions.* But do liver detox supplements work?

Below, we discuss how liver detox supplements work and what you should look for when considering including liver detox supplements in your diet.  

How do Liver Detox Supplements Work?

Studies1,2,3 show that a quality diet and specific supplements can support liver health.* It is worth noting that while detox supplements cannot reverse liver damage, the liver does have an amazing ability to regenerate and heal on its own after the injury caused by pathological conditions has been addressed. However, it is always recommended to consult with your healthcare practitioner before including a liver detox supplement in your diet.  

Let’s look at some of the commonly used ingredients in liver detox supplement formulations and how they promote liver detoxification. 

Mechanism of Action of Liver Detox Supplements
  • Milk thistle:  Silymarin is an active ingredient derived from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), a plant in the daisy family known for the prominent white, milky veins in its leaves. 
    1. Silymarin acts as an antioxidant by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and hypohalide derivatives.* 
    2. Silymarin increases the levels of glutathione (GSH) in the liver, stomach, and intestine.* 
    3. Cytokines are critical components of cell signaling and help maintain healthy inflammatory responses. Some studies4,5 indicate that silymarin up-regulates cytokine metabolism, suppressing TNF-α-induced NFκB activation to inhibit TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity.* 
  • Turmeric: Curcumin, the key compound derived from turmeric root, exerts remarkable therapeutic benefits on oxidative stress-induced liver pathologies through various cellular and molecular mechanisms, including:
    1. Suppressing the pro-inflammatory cytokines*
    2. Limiting lipid peroxidation*
    3. Activating hepatic stellate cells*
    4. Ameliorating cellular response to oxidative stress through cell signaling pathways*
  • Lipoic acid: R- alpha-lipoic acid is synthesized in the body and is available in food sources, such as carrots, beans, spinach, broccoli, and red meat. It is a naturally occurring antioxidant that mitigates oxidative stress through:
    1. Decreasing lipid accumulation in skeletal muscles by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway* 
    2. Limiting hepatic steatosis — an elevated buildup of fat in the liver by regulating several factors, including AMPK, liver X receptors, insulin, and specificity protein 1*
  • Glutathione: The master antioxidant in the body is found in high concentrations in the liver. Glutathione promotes liver health through: 
    1. Working with a wide variety of enzymes that regulate liver detoxification pathways*
    2. Facilitating direct neutralization of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and other oxidative chemicals and excretion of heavy metals and drug metabolites*
    3. Scavenging free radicals and reacting with them in Phase I liver metabolism*

The therapeutic effects of liver detox supplement ingredients are well-established. However, the poor bioavailability and absorption of these active nutrients can adversely affect the efficacy of most supplement formulations. When considering liver detox supplements to include in your diet, you should always look for formulations that utilize advanced nutrient delivery systems for optimal solubility of active nutrient molecules.    

Liver Detox Supplements Developed by Tesseract Medical Research

The proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology developed by Tesseract Medical Research ensures unprecedented absorption of active nutrients, especially those that are difficult to absorb in oral form, such as glutathione. Tesseract’s CyLoc® technology masks individual nutrient molecules in a dextrin fiber delivery cage to maintain their integrity during their transit through the stomach. Tesseract’s accompanying DexKey® reactors release the active ingredient molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract for targeted delivery and maximum absorption. 

The following are two liver detox supplements developed by Tesseract Medical Research.

  • HepatiSafe®: The formulation contains a proprietary blend of four clinically tested nutrients–silymarin, alpha-lipoic acid, glutathione, and tetrahydrocurcumin–that support all phases of liver detoxification. 
  • SafeCell®: The formulation contains an acetylated, more stable form of oral glutathione that supports liver detoxification pathways, down-regulates oxidative stress, and supports optimal cellular and neurological functions.*

With Tesseract’s liver detox supplement formulations containing proven botanical extracts that are delivered through revolutionary nutrient delivery nanotechnology, liver detoxification achieves a whole new level of efficacy.*

The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective dose. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can help support your hepatic health.*

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Citations:

1Hanje AJ, et al. The use of selected nutrition supplements and complementary and alternative medicine in liver disease. Nutrition in clinical practice: official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition vol. 21,3 (2006): 255-272. doi:10.1177/0115426506021003255

2Gao V, Long MT, Singh SR, et al. A Healthy Diet is Associated with a Lower Risk of Hepatic Fibrosis. J Nutr. 2023;153(5):1587-1596. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.03.038

3Liu X, Yang W, Petrick JL, et al. Higher intake of whole grains and dietary fiber are associated with lower risk of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):6388. Published 2021 Nov 4. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-26448-9

4Wu W-T, et al. Silymarin modulates catabolic cytokine expression through Sirt1 and SOX9 in human articular chondrocytes. Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research vol. 16,1 147. 20 Feb. 2021, doi:10.1186/s13018-021-02305-9

5Polyak SJ, Morishima C, Shuhart MC, Wang CC, Liu Y, Lee DY. Inhibition of T-cell inflammatory cytokines, hepatocyte NF-kappaB signaling, and HCV infection by standardized Silymarin. Gastroenterology. 2007;132(5):1925-1936. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2007.02.038

Al Czap, Founder | Tesseract

Al Czap has more than four decades of professional experience in preventative medicine. He founded Thorne Research in 1984 (sold in 2010) and he published Alternative Medicine Review for 17 years beginning in 1996. AMR was a highly acclaimed, peer-reviewed, and indexed medical journal. Al was the first to recognize the need for hypoallergenic ingredients and to devise methods of manufacture for and delivery of hypoallergenic products to underserved patient populations. His work has greatly impacted those with impaired immune and digestive systems and compromised health due to environmental exposures.

The advanced formulations based on our revolutionary, patented, and patent-pending technology are only available through Tesseract. No other medical, pharmaceutical, or supplement company is licensed to utilize our proprietary technology.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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