| Nutritional Supplements
for Liver Support
 People
with HIV infection often have low levels of glutathione in the body.
Glutathione is an amino acid that is made up of glycine, cysteine
and glutamic acid and is important in the body’s defense system.
It plays a large role in both liver detoxification and immunity.
There is a question whether the body is able to absorb glutathione
when it is taken as a supplement. However, supplementing with the
amino acids cysteine (NAC) and glutamine can help to increase glutathione
levels in the body.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) comes from the amino acid
cysteine. Amino acids are building blocks of protein. This amino
acid is very important because it helps the body to make glutathione.
Glutathione plays a vital role in liver detoxification. The amount
of glutathione that is produced by the body is dependent on the
amount of cysteine in the body. So, if the levels of cysteine in
the body are low, the levels of glutathione in the body will be
low. If glutathione levels are too low, liver detoxification may
not work as well. Since NAC is an amino acid, individuals on protein
restricted diets due to advanced liver disease should not take this
supplement as it will be counted as part of your daily protein intake.
Typical dose: 600 – 1500mg/day
Glutamine is also an amino acid. One function of
glutamine is to maintain the health of the intestinal tract so that
the liver will be properly nourished. The intestinal tract is where
nutrients are absorbed. Glutamine, along with NAC, helps to support
the production of glutathione, which helps with liver detoxification.
Since glutamine is an amino acid, individuals on protein restricted
diets due to advanced liver disease should not take this supplement
as it will be counted as part of your daily protein intake. Typical
dose: 10 – 20g/day
Alpha-Lipoic Acid helps the liver in three ways.
First, it is one of the most powerful antioxidants you can take to
help offset the damage of free radicals. During Phase One when free
radicals are produced, antioxidants are needed to help cancel out
the damage that free radicals may cause to cells in the body, including
liver cells. Second, it is a special antioxidant because it is both
fat soluble and water soluble and therefore works in all parts of
the body. Usually, an antioxidant will work only in one part of the
body or the other. Alpha-lipoic acid is also special because it increases
the levels of the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and Coenzyme
Q10 in the body. Third, it raises the level of glutathione in the
body, and glutathione is needed in liver detoxification. Typical
dose: 100 – 200mg 3x/day with meals
Note: The above supplements are thought to be
helpful for the liver and may decrease stress on the liver. However,
taking these supplements cannot reverse extensive liver damage.
Also, they cannot reduce the harm caused by taking substances that
are harmful to the liver like alcohol and recreational drugs.
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