Managing Advanced Liver Disease

Jul 22, 2024

Managing Advanced Liver Disease

Overview

  • Concept: Handling advanced liver disease can improve overall management even in less severe cases.
  • Progression: Liver disease progresses through stages: inflammation to fatty liver to cirrhosis.
  • Timeline: It may take about 10 years for fatty liver to turn into cirrhosis.
  • Symptoms: Often silent; some may experience fatigue and weakness.
  • Indicator: Belly fat can indicate a fatty liver.
  • Regeneration: The liver can regenerate, but severe cirrhosis may necessitate a transplant.

Advanced Cirrhosis Management

  • 6 key strategies to manage advanced liver disease.

1. Autophagy

  • Definition: Recycling damaged proteins and parts of cells, including in the liver.
  • Benefits: Helps fight fibrosis, intracellular pathogens, and manages conditions like hepatitis.
  • Triggers:
    • Fasting: Regular intermittent (18-hour fasts) and periodic prolonged fasting (48 hours weekly or one week monthly).
    • Exercise: Boosts autophagy.
    • Sleep: Promotes autophagy.
    • Ketones: Low-carb diets and no snacking.
    • Therapies: Cold therapy, infrared therapy, coffee polyphenols, extra virgin olive oil, cruciferous vegetables.

2. Fasting

  • Autophagy Activation: Already mentioned above.
  • Additional Benefits:
    • Lowers inflammation
    • Increases antioxidant networks
    • Decreases liver enzymes

3. TADKA

  • Definition: A type of bile salt used in Chinese medicine.
  • Functions:
    • Thins bile to prevent irritation and scarring.
    • Decreases fibrosis.
    • Rehabs liver cells (hepatocytes).
    • Protects liver cells from oxidation.
  • Dosage: Take on an empty stomach (two in the morning, two in the afternoon).

4. Phase 1 and Phase 2 Detoxification

  • Process: Converts fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble, harmless particles.
  • Triggers:
    • Sulfur-rich vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, arugula, radish).
    • Green tea.
    • Sulforaphane (from broccoli sprouts).

5. Milk Thistle

  • Properties:
    • Protects liver from poisons (including medications, alcohol, Tylenol).
    • Prevents fibrosis and inflammation.
    • Neutralizes toxins and decreases liver enzymes.
    • Regenerates liver cells.
  • Consumption: Seeds can be used on salads, ground up.

6. Tocotrienols

  • Type: Specialized form of Vitamin E.
  • Benefits:
    • Breaks up scar tissue.
    • Powerful antioxidant.
    • Decreases inflammation.
    • Reduces the risk of fibrosis.
  • Recommendation: Aim for standalone tocotrienols, not mixed with tocopherols.

Additional Considerations

  • High iron in blood can lead to inflammation and cirrhosis.
  • Blockages in bile ducts can exacerbate liver issues (e.g., gallstones).
  • Liver antibodies can attack the liver in autoimmune conditions.