Liver Nutrients Patient Handout 
Why choose Liver Nutrients by Seeking Health?
The liver is the body’s central detoxification organ, responsible for deactivating environmental toxins as well as those generated endogenously. If liver detoxification is compromised, either by poor nutritional status, excessive toxin exposure, or illness, toxins may accumulate with considerable negative health consequences. The liver is equipped with several detoxification pathways, including excretion of toxins via bile, filtration of toxins from blood, and a two-phase enzymatic neutralization process, known as Phase I and Phase II. The majority of toxins (including xenobiotics, steroid hormones, and metabolic by-products) entering Phase I are converted by a family of enzymes, refered to as cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidases, into intermediates that are often more toxic than their precursor molecules. The intermediate metabolites are then neutralized during Phase II conjugation reactions via glutathione and amino acid conjugation, sulfation, methylation, acetylation, and glucuronidation. These Phase II reactions create water-soluble intermediates that are then excreted in urine and bile.
Free radicals are generated as a result of Phase I reactions. Thus, it is critical to support a proper balance of Phase I and Phase II activities to protect against oxidative damage to cell and cellular processes. There are numerous hepatoprotective nutrients that support Phase I and Phase II activities and protect against excessive free radical generation. Phase I and II reactions are critically dependent upon the availability of numerous nutrients. Liver Nutrients provides several of these key nutrients as well as milk thistle extract which has unique hepatoprotective and regenerative properties.
What makes Liver Nutrients superior to other liver support supplements on the market?
With the combination of 7 key ingredients, Liver Nutrients supports liver detoxification while providing antioxidant protection.1. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Milk thistle extract is rich in the flavonolignins silybin, silydianin, and silychristin, collectively referred to as silymarin. Unique to milk thistle, silymarin is well documented in scientific literature as a powerful hepatoprotective flavonoid complex. Silymarin both enhances and protects healthy liver function through three principal mechanisms. Acting at the cell membrane, silymarin protects hepatic cells by blocking the transportation of hepatotoxins into the liver. Silymarin also acts as an antioxidant, protecting against lipid peroxidation. Silymarin further contributes to the liver’s antioxidant defenses by enhancing glutathione levels, a leading hepatic antioxidant. In addition to its protective functions, silymarin has regenerative properties in the liver. By stimulating protein synthesis, silymarin promotes the regeneration of damaged cells.
2. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) offers numerous hepatoprotective benefits that are primarily the result of its ability to increase endogenous glutathione levels and reduce oxidative stress. When metabolized, NAC generates L-cysteine, which is a precursor of glutathione. Glutathione deactivates many pro-oxidants, including hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, and is required for the synthesis of glutathione peroxidase, another important liver antioxidant. NAC has been shown to increase endogenous synthesis of glutathione when demand for this potent antioxidant is high. NAC is itself a powerful antioxidant, capable of neutralizing hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, and hydroxyl radicals. Experimental studies indicate that NAC may protect the integrity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, two crucial hepatic antioxidants.
3. Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that is both water and fat soluble, and thereby able to offer an unusually wide range of antioxidant protection. Alpha-lipoic acid not only protects the liver by deactivating free radicals, but it also helps build up the body’s antioxidant defenses by recycling other antioxidants, including glutathione and vitamins C and E. Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown beneficial in reducing toxicity caused by exposure to heavy metals, such as mercuryand cadmium, and other environmental toxins.
4. L-Methionine
L-methionine is a precursor of L-cysteine, which in turn is an important precursor of glutathione. L-methionine has been shown to increase endogenous glutathione levels as well as prevent its depletion. As a result of bolstering glutathione levels, L-methionine indirectly supports the Phase II glutathione detoxification pathway as well as hepatic antioxidant defenses. Methionine alsosupports the Phase II methylation detoxification pathway by aiding in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthesis, a key methyl donor in this detoxification pathway. Methionine is reported to support the excretion of toxins in bile. Finally, methionine is also an important precursor of taurine.5. L-Cysteine
As a pivotal precursor of glutathione, L-cysteine is required to maintain sufficient stores of this primary hepatic antioxidant. Like L-methionine, L-cysteine has been shown to increase endogenous glutathione levels as well as prevent its depletion. By protecting glutathione levels, L-cysteine helps support the Phase II glutathione conjugation detoxification pathway and aids in controlling hepatic oxidative stress by bolstering glutathione stores. L-cysteine is also an important precursor for the endogenous synthesis of taurine.
6. Taurine
Taurine is involved in a variety of detoxification processes, including bile acid conjugation, reduction of oxidative stress, and select Phase II detoxification pathways. In order to clear toxins, cholesterol, and excess fat-soluble vitamins from the body, bile acids form bile salt conjugates by binding with either taurine or glycine. As an antioxidant, taurine helps reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing hypochlorous acid. Finally, taurine is involved in the Phase II amino acid conjugation detoxification pathway in which specific amino acids bind to and deactivate toxins. Activity of another Phase II detoxification pathway, sulfation, may also be enhanced by taurine. Taurine can be synthesized endogenously in the liver using L-cysteine and L-methionine.
7. Trimethylglycine (betaine)
Trimethylglycine has been shown to help protect the liver against damage following carbon tetrachloride exposure in animal studies. Betaine has also been shown in animal studies to raise hepatic levels of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) of both control animals as well as those fed ethanol. Studies in both animals and humans have shown SAM to be protective against the development of fatty liver that can occur with ethanol ingestion.
What you need to know
Maintenance and protection of liver function is known to be optimized by adequate intake of many additional nutritional factors, including the antioxidant vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, B vitamins, and selenium. It is thus recommended that Liver Nutrients be taken in conjunction with Optimal Multivitamin by Seeking Health comprehensive nutritional support of liver health.
Adverse Reactions None reported.
Suggested Use: 1 capsule twice daily or as directed by physician.
Drug Interactions:Potential adverse reactions may occur with concurrent use of NAC and metoclopramide and NAC and nitroglycerine.
Contraindications This product is not recommended for use during pregnancy and lactation.
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.
Additional Details of Liver Nutrients 60 Vegetarian Capsules - Seeking Health
Cost Per Serving: $0.33
Weight:
0.3 lbs
SKU:
023-99-001-08
Brand:
Seeking Health
Delivery type:
Vegetarian Capsule
Special instructions:
Store in a cool, dry place (59ºF-85ºF) away from direct light. Keep out of reach of children
Height:
4
Width:
2
MPN:
025-05-001-39
UPC:
828054146983
Return Policy:
45 Day Money Back Guarantee!
Made In:
Canada
Research File:
