The liver is a vital organ that requires fiber in order to function properly. The reality is that most people have insufficient amounts of fiber in their diets. If the liver becomes overworked, toxins and cholesterol levels in the body may increase, according to naturopathic doctor Ryan Bradley. Fortunately, fiber supplements may help remove the toxins from your body to prevent liver damage. Consult your doctor before taking fiber supplements.
Fiber Sources
Fiber is the bulk from all plant foods that your body cannot digest, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dietary fiber occurs in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and numerous other plant foods. Fiber is classified as either insoluble or soluble. Insoluble fiber remains intact in water, whereas soluble fiber dissolves. You can obtain insoluble fiber from such sources as bran, whole-wheat flour and vegetables. Soluble fiber sources include oats, peas and psyllium. You can also take fiber supplements, which range from bran tablets to purified cellulose, reports the website HighFiberHealth.com. The well-known brand Metamucil contains soluble psyllium, and the brand Benefiber contains guar gum, another soluble fiber.
Fiber Supplement Benefits
All fibers inhibit the absorption of fats and sugars, Dr. Ryan Bradley states, on the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation website. In addition, some fibers, such as pysllium, reportedly have prebiotic effects; that is, they provide nourishment for the beneficial bacteria in your gut that help remove body poisons and reduce strain on your liver. A low-fiber diet may lead to a buildup of toxins and fats in your liver, reports Dr. Sandra Cabot, on the website Liverdoctor.com. The liver is the body's primary detoxifier and needs adequate amounts of fiber to remove waste materials. A lack of fiber may cause toxins and fats to be sent back to the liver to be cleansed. This may result in a clogged, damaged liver that is unable to remove fats from the blood, which can lead to an accumulation of fatty deposits on your blood vessel walls, Cabot says. In addition, a malfunctioning liver reportedly does not produce enough healthful HDL cholesterol to combat the dangerous LDL cholesterol on blood vessel walls. Thus, a poorly functioning liver may contribute to heart conditions such as a heart attack.
Fiber Supplements for Liver Fats
Dietary fiber supplements may reduce levels of lipids, or fats, in your liver. A study published in the April 23, 1988, edition of the journal "Lipids" discovered that certain fibers decreased lipids in the livers of rats. Groups of rats were fed diets of various fiber supplements and mixtures, including guar gum, Metamucil, alfalfa, cellulose, bran and Fibyrax. Rats ingesting guar gum or Metamucil had decreased liver triglycerides, the chemical form of most fats. In addition, a group of rats that were fed cellulose had lower levels of phospholipids, another type of fat.
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