Private MD News

Vitamin E helps ward off liver disease, study shows

Category: Liver Diseases

Liver disease is becoming a more common problem among non-alcoholics, but a growing number of medical professionals are saying that vitamin E may help boost liver function, heading off the disease.

The condition, called steatohepatitis, is caused by fatty build-ups in the liver which can lead to major problems, including cirrhosis and cancer.

Dr. Brent Tetri of St. Louis University recently led a study that looked into the potential health benefits of vitamin E, and found that it can help people who are beginning to develop the disease improve their liver function.

"Fatty liver disease is a growing problem in the U.S., and we currently have no approved medication to offer patients," he told the Bellville News Democrat. "With this study, we're pleased to find that vitamin E should help some of our patients."

The finding that vitamin E may help the condition comes as good news, as prior research has shown that individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease face a significantly higher mortality rate compared to the general population.