Supplements for liver
NAC, milk thistle, choline — what supports a healthy liver vs what stresses it.
NAC is the antidote for acetaminophen toxicity and has small trial evidence for non-alcoholic fatty liver. Milk thistle (silymarin) has long traditional use, modest modern evidence, and may interact with chemotherapy. Choline supports liver phospholipid synthesis. Avoid: high-dose green tea extract (can cause hepatotoxicity), kava (FDA warning), comfrey/coltsfoot (pyrrolizidine alkaloids → veno-occlusive disease), high-dose niacin without medical supervision, and 'liver detox' blends — none have evidence and many contain hepatotoxic herbs.
Evidence summary
The numbers on the cards are the same composite as the supplement pages: efficacy, safety, research, onset, cost, and drug-interaction ratings, from 20 to 100. The strongest records on this page are Nicotinic acid (Niacin, flush form), Algal DHA (vegan omega-3), and Citrulline (L-citrulline, pure form). A higher score is a stronger record in the database, not a personal recommendation.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, and anyone taking a prescription drug should talk with a clinician before using this list.
- Do not stack products from this list that sedate, thin the blood, or lower blood sugar with medicines that do the same thing.
Comparisons and topic guides
67
Nicotinic acid (Niacin, flush form)
75
Algal DHA (vegan omega-3)
74
Citrulline (L-citrulline, pure form)
74
Niacinamide (nicotinamide)
73
Vitamin A (retinol, low-dose)
73
Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone)
72
MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides)
70
Choline bitartrate
70
Olive polyphenol complex (EVOO)
70
Broccoli sprout extract (BroccoMax / Avmacol)
70
Magnafolate (calcium L-methylfolate)
69
Lactobacillus crispatus
69
Caprylic acid (C8 MCT)
68
Ashwagandha (KSM-66)
68
Artichoke extract (Cynara scolymus)
68
Betaine TMG (trimethylglycine)
68
Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P)
68
Iberogast (STW 5)
67
Dihydromyricetin (DHM)
67
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
66
Choline
66
Phosphatidylcholine
66
L-Cysteine
52
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Educational reference, not medical advice. Discuss any supplement change with a qualified clinician before acting on this list.