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Alternative Sweetener Sorbitol Drives Hidden Liver Fat Buildup
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2026/01/15/sorbitol-liver-damage.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola January 15, 2026
Story at-a-glance
- Sorbitol, a common sugar alcohol in sugar-free and “diet” products, drives liver fat buildup even when your gut bacteria are healthy, making it a hidden contributor to fatty liver disease
- When your microbiome is weakened from antibiotics, stress, or ultraprocessed foods, sorbitol slips through your gut unchanged and reaches your liver, where it triggers rapid fat production
- Sorbitol is converted into fructose inside your liver, bypassing normal metabolic controls and overwhelming your ability to process sugar safely
- Strengthening your gut bacteria, eliminating vegetable oils and alcohol, and increasing choline-rich foods help protect your liver from sorbitol-driven damage
- Simple daily steps — removing sorbitol-containing products, restoring gut balance, supporting vitamin D metabolism, and using whole-food carbs — give you direct control over your liver health
Fatty liver disease has become a major metabolic threat, and it often develops quietly while you feel nothing more than fatigue or vague abdominal discomfort. Fat starts building inside your liver long before symptoms feel serious, and if nothing interrupts that process, the damage moves toward inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure. Many people discover the problem only after it has already progressed.
A study published in Science Signaling points to an unexpected driver hiding in everyday foods.1 Sorbitol shows up in sugar-free gums, flavored waters, low-calorie snacks, and countless “diet” products many assume are safe, but the evidence shows this sweetener places significant strain on your metabolism.
Sorbitol shifts your internal chemistry quickly once it enters your system. Your gut and liver work together to handle sugar exposure, and when that balance breaks down, your metabolism changes. This turns hidden artificial sweeteners into a much bigger issue and highlights how strongly your gut health shapes your liver health. Once you see how sorbitol behaves inside your body, you can start using strategies that protect your liver instead of overwhelming it.
Sorbitol Overload Rewires Your Liver Within Days
The Science Signaling study investigated how sorbitol behaves inside the body and why it triggers fatty liver changes when gut bacteria fail to break it down.2 The researchers used adult zebrafish because these animals absorb sugar alcohols directly through their intestines, allowing scientists to watch sorbitol move through the gut-liver pathway in real time.
• High sorbitol intake triggers liver fat even with a healthy microbiome — The fish had intact metabolisms before the experiment, which allowed the team to isolate how sorbitol exposure altered liver function. They found that even standard diets triggered liver fat when gut microbes were removed via antibiotic treatment.
However, fish given high sorbitol doses developed the same fat buildup, even when their microbiome was still present. This means sorbitol exposure overwhelms your system enough to bypass normal defenses.
• The loss of gut bacteria caused sorbitol to build up rapidly in the intestines and bloodstream — Antimicrobial-treated fish showed a “substantial accumulation of lipid” in the liver after only seven days, indicating fatty liver.
Without microbiota, the intestine produced sorbitol from glucose and left it untouched, allowing it to move directly into the bloodstream. This means imbalanced gut microbiota or frequent antibiotic exposure increases your vulnerability to sorbitol-driven liver fat.
• The liver converted excess sorbitol into fructose, which triggered metabolic stress — Sorbitol overloaded the liver’s fructose-processing pathway and activated an enzyme called glucokinase, which accelerates glucose breakdown and fat production. Sorbitol tricks your liver into behaving as if you consumed a large dose of fructose, even if you didn’t. This increases the risk of liver fat accumulation, especially if you already deal with metabolic challenges.
• Sorbitol-derived fructose reached unusually high levels when gut bacteria were missing — Metabolic tracing revealed that fructose created from sorbitol was roughly 15 times higher in microbiome-depleted fish compared to controls. That means your gut bacteria act like a metabolic shield. When that shield weakens, sorbitol slips through and forces your liver into fat-storage mode.
• Excess sorbitol also pushed the liver to store more glycogen and create more fat — Sorbitol-driven activation of glucokinase boosted glucose storage and pushed remaining glucose into pathways that produce fatty acids and triglycerides. They measured increased expression of fat-production genes, confirming that sorbitol accelerates the exact biochemical steps that worsen liver disease.
How Sorbitol Overload Disrupts Metabolism
The study showed that an enzyme in your intestine turns glucose into sorbitol. Under normal conditions, your gut bacteria break down that sorbitol before it goes anywhere important. But when those bacteria are missing or weakened, the sorbitol slips through untouched and travels straight to your liver. Once it gets there, another enzyme turns it into fructose. This is a problem because fructose skips your body’s usual safety checks and pushes your liver to create fat very quickly, leaving it overloaded.
• Sorbitol flips a switch inside your liver that speeds up fat production — After sorbitol turns into fructose, a molecule called fructose-1-phosphate signals your liver to activate glucokinase, an enzyme that makes your liver process sugar faster and turn more of it into fat. This is why even short bursts of sorbitol exposure trigger noticeable changes in liver fat.
•The microbiome proved to be the deciding factor for protection — When the team reintroduced sorbitol-degrading Aeromonas bacteria into microbiome-depleted fish, liver fat storage decreased dramatically. This means your microbiome determines how well you handle sorbitol.
If your gut bacteria break it down, your liver stays protected. If they don’t, sorbitol reaches your liver and fuels fat accumulation. This gives you a powerful, actionable insight: protecting your gut diversity is one of the best defenses against hidden metabolic stressors like sorbitol.
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Steps to Protect Your Liver from Sorbitol Overload
Your first priority is to stop the flood of sorbitol before it reaches your liver. The research shows that the real problem starts in your gut, not your liver, which means your daily choices determine whether sorbitol is broken down safely or whether it slips through and triggers fat buildup.
If you already struggle with bloating, irregular digestion, sugar cravings, fatigue, or a history of heavy antibiotic use, you’re more vulnerable to sorbitol escaping your gut and overwhelming your liver. The following steps help you remove the stressors creating the damage instead of simply working around the symptoms.
1. Reduce or eliminate sorbitol-containing processed foods — If you rely on sugar-free gum, flavored waters, low-calorie snacks, or “diabetic-friendly” packaged foods, you’re likely taking in more sorbitol than your system can handle. Removing these products lowers the strain on your microbiome and stops excess sorbitol from reaching your liver. You protect yourself immediately by choosing whole foods rather than processed ones with hidden artificial sweeteners.
2. Strengthen your gut bacteria so sorbitol breaks down before it reaches your liver — Your microbiome acts as your internal sorbitol filter, and when it’s depleted, sorbitol slips past your gut defenses. If you notice digestive issues, use antibiotics, or have a history of restrictive diets or ongoing stress, assume your gut bacteria need rebuilding.
Start by avoiding ultraprocessed foods, including vegetable oils, which are high in linoleic acid (LA), a polyunsaturated fat that oxidizes and injures your mitochondria. If your diet is filled with ultraprocessed foods, your gut microbes will be skewed toward the harmful strains.
In addition, your body’s preferred energy source is glucose, and that comes from carbs. Aim for a steady intake of around 250 grams of healthy carbs from fruit and rice to restore gut balance. Later, once your digestion is stronger, add root vegetables, legumes and well-tolerated whole grains.
3. Remove the major stressors that injure your liver in the first place — If your liver isn’t working the way it should, the goal is not just symptom relief — it’s removing what caused the damage. Your liver handles detoxification, hormone processing, and fat metabolism, and when it’s overloaded, everything else falls behind. The two biggest stressors are vegetable oils and alcohol. The LA in vegetable oils like soybean, canola, corn, sunflower, and generic “vegetable oil” is a mitochondrial poison.
Alcohol adds another layer of damage by breaking down into substances that injure liver cells directly. Alcohol and LA follow the same toxic pathway in your liver, creating harmful aldehydes that cause mitochondrial damage and fatty liver disease. Give your liver breathing room by removing both. For cooking, switch to grass fed butter, ghee, tallow, or coconut oil.
4. Move out liver fat by increasing choline intake — Your liver relies on choline to package and move fat out of its cells. Without enough choline, fat piles up inside the liver and triggers dysfunction. Pastured egg yolks and grass fed beef liver offer the highest levels. If you rarely eat these foods, assume your liver is working without enough support.
FAQs About Sorbitol and Your Liver
Q: What makes sorbitol harmful to your liver?
A: Sorbitol disrupts your metabolism by slipping past your gut bacteria and reaching your liver unchanged. Once there, your liver converts it into fructose, which triggers rapid fat creation and glycogen buildup. Even short-term exposure pushes your liver into fat-storage mode.
Q: Why does gut health determine how your body handles sorbitol?
A: Your gut bacteria normally break down sorbitol before it enters your bloodstream. If your microbiome is depleted from antibiotics, stress, restrictive dieting, or ultraprocessed foods, sorbitol passes through untouched and overwhelms your liver.
Q: Can sorbitol cause liver fat even if my gut bacteria are healthy?
A: Yes. High doses of sorbitol overwhelm your microbiome’s protective capacity. The study found that even fish with intact gut bacteria developed significant liver fat when sorbitol intake was high.
Q: What steps help protect my liver from sorbitol-driven damage?
A: You lower risk by removing sorbitol-containing products, rebuilding gut bacteria with balanced carbs and whole foods, eliminating vegetable oils and alcohol, increasing choline-rich foods, and supporting metabolic repair through sunlight and proper vitamin D balance.
Q: Why is sorbitol riskier than most people realize?
A: Sorbitol looks harmless on labels, but your gut and liver treat it very differently. When it bypasses your microbiome, your liver converts it into fructose and rapidly stores fat. This hidden metabolic load makes sorbitol far more damaging than many people expect.
How Urolithin A Drives Mitochondrial Renewal and Slows Immune Aging
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2026/01/15/urolithin-a-immune-system-benefits.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola January 15, 2026
Story at-a-glance
- As you age, your thymus produces fewer newly formed cells responsible for responding to unfamiliar pathogens, reducing your immune system’s adaptability. This shift, combined with persistent inflammation, defines the core features of immune aging
- Urolithin A, a postbiotic compound, stimulates mitochondrial renewal in aging immune cells. A recent study shows it can increase naïve-like T cells and strengthen immune surveillance in just four weeks of supplementation
- Clinical findings show that urolithin A boosts mitochondrial renewal pathways, increases markers linked to mitochondrial biogenesis, and improves immune cell metabolism
- Beyond immune health, studies reveal that urolithin A influences cancer pathways, enhances muscle strength and endurance, improves fatty liver markers, and reshapes metabolic signaling involved in obesity and insulin resistance
- Beyond using urolithin A, you can also support your mitochondria by lowering linoleic acid intake, eating the right carbohydrates, limiting environmental toxins, and supporting NAD⁺ production with niacinamide
Most people tend to think of immune health mainly as a defense against seasonal colds or infections. In reality, its influence runs deeper. A well-balanced immune system helps regulate inflammation, maintain internal stability, and support energy and vitality. As the years pass, however, the immune system undergoes natural changes that are part of the aging process itself.1
Mitochondrial breakdown drives much of this decline, yet effective strategies to address immune aging are still lacking. To address this gap, a recent study published in Nature Aging investigated whether urolithin A, a postbiotic compound, could stimulate mitochondrial clean-up and rebuilding, ultimately helping to renew aging immune cells from within.2
What Happens to Your Immune System as You Age?
As you grow older, your immune system undergoes what the Nature Aging study describes as “global remodeling of the immune system,” which involves several well-documented shifts that change how effectively your immune system responds to everyday challenges.3
• Thymic output declines, reducing newly formed T cells — One of the core shifts involves the thymus, the organ that produces naïve T cells. With age, thymic activity declines, leading to fewer newly formed T cells entering circulation. Because naïve T cells are your front-line responders to unfamiliar pathogens, this reduction makes it harder for your immune system to mount strong first-time responses.
• Memory T cells accumulate, limiting adaptability — As naïve T cells drop, memory T cells become a larger share of your immune system. Memory cells help with threats you have already encountered but bring little support when something new appears. This shift explains why older adults respond less robustly to vaccines and face more risk from novel infections.
• Inflammaging becomes a defining feature of later life — As immune cell patterns shift with age, the body enters a state of persistent, low-grade inflammation. This phenomenon, known as inflammaging, reflects higher levels of inflammatory mediators circulating at rest and is considered one of the central characteristics of an aging immune system. Learn more about this in “‘Inflammaging’ Is a Lifestyle Phenomenon, Not a Universal Aging Trait.”
Together, these changes outline the core features of immune aging. They show why an older immune system tends to be less flexible, slower to respond to new threats, and more prone to persistent inflammation.
New Insights Into Urolithin A’s Immune and Mitochondrial Actions
The featured study involved 50 healthy adults between 45 and 70 who received either 1,000 mg of urolithin A per day or a placebo for four weeks. Researchers collected blood at the beginning and end of the study to observe how immune cells shift over that short window. This made it possible to see whether mitochondrial support translates into measurable changes in immune cell composition and behavior.4
• Urolithin A increased naïve CD8 T cells — Participants who received urolithin A showed a significant increase in naïve CD8 T cells, which behave more like younger, freshly formed immune cells. These cells respond more reliably to threats and carry fewer markers of exhaustion. Alongside this shift, CD8 T cells also showed about a 15% increase in their ability to use fatty acids for energy, suggesting better metabolic flexibility.
• Innate immune cells showed stronger surveillance profiles — Urolithin A supplementation increased a subtype of natural killer (NK) cells known for being the most active in identifying and eliminating infected or abnormal cells. These NK cells deliver the strongest cytotoxic activity, so having more of them strengthens rapid-response immunity.
• Signs of increased mitochondrial biogenesis appeared within CD8 T cells — Participants who took urolithin A showed higher expression of markers associated with PGC-1α, the protein that guides mitochondrial growth and renewal.
This points to a process where immune cells were not only clearing out older, less efficient mitochondria but also strengthening their overall energy system, giving them a more reliable foundation when they activate or stay engaged for longer periods.
• Functional tests showed stronger immune responses — When researchers activated T cells in the lab, those from the urolithin A group produced more tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cytokine that signals rapid immune engagement. Monocytes also demonstrated better uptake of E. coli particles, indicating improved ability to recognize and engulf microbial targets.
• Molecular programming shifts within immune cells — Single-cell analysis showed that urolithin A reshaped inflammatory and metabolic pathways across multiple immune cell types, pointing toward coordinated changes that support stronger, more balanced immunity as you age. As the researchers explained:
“Exploratory single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrated urolithin A (UA)-driven transcriptional shifts across immune populations, modulating pathways linked to inflammation and metabolism.
These findings indicate that short-term UA supplementation modulates human immune cell composition and function, supporting its potential to counteract age-related immune decline and inflammaging.”5
Taken together, the trial shows that urolithin A influences the immune system on several levels within a relatively short period of time. While the study was designed as an early investigation, its findings offer a clear indication that supporting mitochondrial health may play a meaningful role in maintaining immune resilience as you age.
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Urolithin A’s Effects Across Different Conditions
Beyond immune aging, urolithin A has been studied for a variety of other health effects as well. Research shows that it interacts with several biological pathways relevant to long-term health, which has led scientists to examine its role in several conditions, including:6
• Cancer — Urolithin A shows anticancer activity mainly in preclinical work. Laboratory and animal studies report that it slows the growth of several tumor types, promotes cancer cell death (apoptosis), and interferes with pathways that support proliferation and invasion.
Reviews describe these effects in models of breast, pancreatic, oral, and other cancers, and highlight actions such as inhibiting NF-κB signaling, activating FOXO1 (a transcription factor that supports cellular stress responses and regulates genes involved in survival and repair), and triggering autophagy-related cell death in tumor cells.7
• Muscle strength — In a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open, older adults aged 65 to 90 were given 1,000 mg of urolithin A per day for four months. Results showed significantly improved muscle endurance, measured as the number of contractions until fatigue in both hand and leg muscles, compared with placebo.8
A separate trial in middle-aged adults, published in Cell Reports Medicine, found that daily urolithin A supplementation led to improvements in quadriceps strength, enhanced exercise performance, and favorable shifts in several biomarkers associated with mitochondrial health within a similar timeframe.9
• Fatty liver — In a mouse model of fructose-induced fatty liver disease, urolithin A supplementation reduced hepatic steatosis and improved the balance between fat creation and fat breakdown in the liver by impairing lipogenesis and enhancing β-oxidation.10 In parallel, a Biomedicines review notes that urolithin A attenuates inflammation in liver tissue in metabolic models, helping to stabilize the hepatic environment under stress.11
• Metabolic disorders — Urolithin A has been studied extensively in models of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. In laboratory and animal models, urolithin A reduced triglyceride accumulation in fat cells and liver cells by lowering genes that drive fat creation and activating AMPK, an energy-sensing pathway that shifts cells toward burning stored fat instead of stockpiling it.12
More detailed experiments in preadipocytes (the precursor cells that eventually mature into fat cells) found that urolithin A lowered triglyceride content and suppressed the expression of several key genes that help regulate fat storage, glucose transport, and fatty acid binding, so reducing their activity helps keep fat accumulation under control while still allowing fat cells to form normally.13
Several studies also showed that urolithin A protected mice and rats from high-fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by supporting thermogenesis, increasing browning responses (a shift toward a more metabolically active type of fat cell), reducing oxidative stress, and lowering inflammatory activity within adipose tissue.14
Better Urolithin A Delivery Is Still Under Way
Before you try to increase your urolithin A levels, it’s important to understand how your body forms it, why many people produce very little, and what determines whether supplementation works as intended. Understanding these details helps you decide the most effective and practical way to support your mitochondrial renewal pathways.
• Urolithin A is naturally produced in your body — When you eat foods rich in ellagitannins, a class of polyphenols found in pomegranates and some berries, these plant compounds are first converted into ellagic acid and then transformed into different urolithins depending on which microbial species live in your gut.15
• Not everyone forms urolithin A efficiently — The ability to generate urolithin A depends entirely on your gut microbiota composition. Factors such as age, diet, medication use, and overall microbial diversity influence whether the conversion occurs.
Only about 40% of adults produce detectable levels after consuming ellagitannin-rich foods like pomegranate juice. Even among individuals who do produce it, output varies widely, which is why supplementation has become the most reliable way to achieve consistent levels.16
• How it’s delivered matters — Because urolithin A exerts its mitophagy action inside the mitochondria, it’s important to deliver it directly into the mitochondria. This is essential because mitochondria are constantly being damaged.
They contain the furnace of energy production, and because most people consume excess linoleic acid (LA) from seed oils, their mitochondria get destroyed prematurely. These damaged mitochondria need to be recycled; if they just accumulate, your cellular energy production collapses.
• Newer systems are being developed to improve this targeted delivery — Without mitochondrial targeting, much higher doses of urolithin A are required to reach the same intracellular effect (about 1,000-fold higher). Most formulations currently available do not include this targeting technology, but next-generation approaches are being designed to deliver urolithin A directly to the mitochondria so effective levels can be achieved with lower amounts.
• Urolithin A is also part of a paired approach — Urolithin A must be used in conjunction with PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone), which activates PGC-1α to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis. This combination is important, as urolithin A clears out the damaged mitochondria while PQQ generates fresh replacements.
While better delivery systems are on the way, you already have practical ways to strengthen mitochondrial function, many of which support the same pathways urolithin A influences.
Practical Strategies to Improve Your Mitochondrial Health
Recognizing how strongly your mitochondria influence immune aging gives you a clearer sense of where to focus your efforts. The choices you make each day shape how well your mitochondria function, which in turn affects your metabolic stability and long-term immune resilience. Several practical steps can help you support these organelles and create a healthier foundation for cellular energy and overall health:
1. Remove processed foods and vegetable oils from your diet — Processed products are typically made with seed oils that contain large amounts of LA, which interferes with mitochondrial function and reduces your ability to generate energy efficiently. Nuts, seeds, and most restaurant meals contribute additional LA, since commercial kitchens rely heavily on these oils.
Chicken and pork often contain higher levels of LA as well, due to the way they are commonly raised and fed. Center your diet around whole foods and choose low-LA fats such as grass fed butter, tallow, and ghee. Aim to keep your daily LA intake under 5 grams, ideally aiming for less than 2 grams. Use an online nutrition tracker like the upcoming Mercola Health Coach App to monitor your intake.
2. Optimize your carbohydrate intake for cellular fuel — A balanced diet rich in the right carbs and free of ultraprocessed foods feeds your mitochondria with the glucose they’re designed to burn. Focus on whole fruits and white rice first, then gradually bring in root vegetables, legumes, and well-tolerated grains as your gut improves. Aim for 250 grams of healthy carbs daily to keep your thyroid working at full capacity.
3. Reduce exposure to environmental toxins — Your cells are exposed to synthetic chemicals every day. Substances such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from plastics, estrogen-mimicking compounds like xenoestrogens, and widespread electromagnetic fields (EMFs) interfere with how efficiently your mitochondria produce energy. When these exposures accumulate, mitochondrial function declines.
Taking steps to limit this burden can make a meaningful difference. Choose household items made from natural materials whenever possible, and store food in glass instead of plastic. Creating a low-EMF sleeping environment is also helpful, as it allows your cells to recover overnight with less external stress. Collectively, these changes reduce the strain placed on your body.
4. Get proper sun exposure — Regular sun exposure supports cellular energy by stimulating the production of mitochondrial melatonin, which provides strong antioxidant protection inside your cells. However, it’s best to avoid direct sun during peak hours (typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in most parts of the U.S.) until you have minimized seed oils in your diet for at least six months, as the buildup of LA in your tissues makes your skin more prone to sunburn.
5. Boost NAD+ Levels — Taking niacinamide at a dose of 50 mg three times a day helps raise your NAD+ levels, which supports mitochondrial energy production. Adequate NAD+ is essential for proper cell-death signaling and strengthens your immune system’s ability to recognize and clear damaged cells.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Urolithin A
Q: What is urolithin A, and how does it work?
A: Urolithin A is a postbiotic compound that your body produces when gut bacteria break down ellagitannins from foods like pomegranates and berries.
It works by stimulating mitophagy, the process that clears out damaged mitochondria from your cells and promotes the growth of new, healthy ones. This mitochondrial renewal is particularly important for your immune cells, which need strong energy production to function effectively as you age.
Q: How does my immune system change as I get older?
A: As you age, your thymus produces fewer naïve T cells, which are your front-line responders to new threats. At the same time, memory T cells accumulate, making your immune system less adaptable to novel infections. You also experience persistent low-grade inflammation that becomes a defining feature of immune aging. Together, these changes make your immune system slower to respond and less flexible.
Q: Can my body produce urolithin A on its own?
A: Your body can produce urolithin A only if you eat foods that contain ellagitannins and you have the specific gut bacteria needed to convert them. Many adults lack the microbes required, which is why only about 40% produce detectable levels even after consuming ellagitannin-rich foods.
Q: What are the benefits of urolithin A beyond immune health?
A: Studies show effects in several areas, including muscle endurance, metabolic function, fat storage, and cellular stress responses. Preclinical research also reports anticancer activity, with urolithin A influencing pathways tied to tumor growth and autophagy. Human trials have confirmed gains in muscle performance and mitochondrial biomarkers.
Q: What other steps can I take to improve my mitochondrial function?
A: You can support your mitochondrial health through several practical daily choices. Lowering your LA intake by cutting back on seed oils and processed foods helps protect your mitochondria from ongoing oxidative damage. Eating the right kinds of carbohydrates also gives your cells the steady glucose they rely on for energy.
Reducing your exposure to environmental toxins and creating a low-EMF sleeping environment further lightens the stress placed on your cells each day. Regular sun exposure adds another layer of support by stimulating mitochondrial melatonin, and taking niacinamide helps raise your NAD⁺ levels, which your mitochondria rely on to function efficiently.
- 1 Timeline, October 31, 2025
- 2, 3, 4, 5 Nature Aging Volume 5, Pages 2309-2322 (2025)
- 6 Youth and Earth, February 16, 2025
- 7 Nanotheranostics. 2025 Apr 22;9(2):121-143
- 8 JAMA Netw Open 2022;5;(1):e2144279
- 9 Cell Reports Medicine Volume 3, Issue 5, 17 May 2022, 100633
- 10 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 24 Feb 2023, 71(9):3967-3980
- 11, 12, 13, 14 Biomedicines 2021, 9(2), 192
- 15, 16 Front Nutr. 2025 May 16;12:1585922
How Molecular Hydrogen Fights Inflammation and Reverses Fatty Liver Disease
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/12/28/hydrogen-therapy-reverses-fatty-liver-disease.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola December 28, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- Molecular hydrogen acts as a selective antioxidant that targets only harmful free radicals, helping to calm inflammation without disrupting essential cellular signaling
- Research discussed by Tyler LeBaron shows that hydrogen therapy reverses non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by restoring mitochondrial function and reducing fat accumulation in the liver
- Hydrogen’s small molecular size allows it to penetrate deep into cells, including mitochondria and your brain, where it supports energy production and reduces oxidative stress
- Short, pulsed use of hydrogen — through hydrogen-rich water or inhalation — produces stronger benefits than continuous exposure, improving your body’s ability to adapt and heal naturally
- Using hydrogen alongside simple lifestyle changes such as limiting seed oils, eating nutrient-dense foods, and getting daily sunlight enhances liver health, boosts energy, and supports long-term metabolic balance
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, has become one of the fastest-growing metabolic disorders worldwide, quietly affecting millions of adults who often feel perfectly healthy. Unlike alcohol-related liver damage, this condition stems from excess fat stored in your liver due to modern lifestyle factors — poor diet, inactivity, and chronic stress — that overwhelm your body’s ability to manage oxidative stress.
What makes it so insidious is that most people have no idea it’s happening until significant damage has already occurred. You might notice subtle signs first — low energy, brain fog, or mild abdominal discomfort — but these are easy to dismiss. Beneath the surface, your liver is struggling to keep up with the flood of inflammation and metabolic waste that builds when your cells are out of balance.
Left unchecked, this dysfunction doesn’t stop at your liver. It sets the stage for diabetes, heart disease, and even neurodegenerative disorders, all rooted in the same cellular breakdown. Addressing that root cause requires more than symptom relief — it demands restoring cellular balance where the problem begins. That’s what makes molecular hydrogen so remarkable.
As Tyler LeBaron, MSc., Ph.D., founder of the Molecular Hydrogen Institute, explains on Chemaine’s Model Health podcast, this simple molecule helps your body repair itself by regulating oxidative stress and supporting mitochondrial energy production.1
I’ve interviewed LeBaron myself, and as he explains, molecular hydrogen acts as a precision tool for inflammation control, protecting healthy cells while allowing your immune system to function as designed. By understanding how molecular hydrogen rebalances these core cellular processes, you gain a powerful strategy for protecting your liver — and your overall health — from the ground up.
Hydrogen Restores Cellular Balance and Protects Against Inflammation
In the discussion, LeBaron explains that molecular hydrogen (H2) is far more than a simple antioxidant. Unlike conventional antioxidants that indiscriminately neutralize free radicals, hydrogen works selectively. It targets the most harmful species — especially hydroxyl radicals — without disturbing the free radicals your body actually needs for signaling and immune defense. This precision allows it to calm inflammation without suppressing necessary repair processes.
• Hydrogen therapy has profound protective effects during stroke and cardiac injury — In the 2007 Nature Medicine study that inspired LeBaron’s research path, rats exposed to a stroke model were given low concentrations of hydrogen gas (about 2%).2
This small dose reduced brain injury dramatically by limiting oxidative damage. LeBaron notes that this finding ignited the entire field of hydrogen research, as it showed hydrogen could be administered safely and still exert measurable, therapeutic effects on living tissue.
• Molecular hydrogen has been studied as a treatment for NAFLD — LeBaron describes research showing that hydrogen-rich water reduced fat accumulation in animal models of fatty liver. Low-dose hydrogen water offered minimal benefit, but higher concentrations significantly improved liver function and reduced inflammation. Follow-up clinical trials mirrored these results in humans, showing measurable drops in liver fat and improved body composition within weeks.
• Participants with metabolic syndrome saw major after consuming hydrogen water three times daily — This group — characterized by abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, and insulin resistance — experienced reduced oxidative stress and enhanced mitochondrial efficiency, along with improvements in body fat, lipid profiles, and inflammation markers.
• Hydrogen’s effects involve fine-tuned control of oxidative and inflammatory pathways — Hydrogen activates the body’s master antioxidant switch. When turned on, this switch increases the production of protective enzymes like glutathione and superoxide dismutase — your cells’ natural shields against oxidative stress.
At the same time, hydrogen inhibits a signaling molecule that triggers chronic inflammation. The result is not immune suppression but recalibration: inflammation quiets where it’s excessive yet stays strong when needed for healing.
• Hydrogen’s selective action helps prevent cell death caused by oxidative overload — This process is known as apoptosis. In studies where cells were stressed with toxins or lack of oxygen, hydrogen exposure reduced apoptosis rates dramatically.
This protective effect stems from its ability to neutralize unstable molecules that attack DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. By eliminating only these harmful radicals, hydrogen spares beneficial molecules like nitric oxide, which are vital for blood flow and immune communication.
Hydrogen Therapy Is Easy to Use and Safe, Even at High Doses
Tablets that produce hydrogen when dropped into water create a cloudy, effervescent drink. LeBaron explains that the cloudiness shows active hydrogen gas in solution and that drinking it while still cloudy ensures the highest dose.
Room temperature water dissolves hydrogen best, and consuming it immediately after the tablet finishes dissolving maximizes benefits. Unlike other therapies that require IV drips or expensive devices, hydrogen offers an accessible, nontoxic option you can use daily at home.
• The molecule’s small size gives it a unique advantage — It diffuses through cell membranes, crosses your blood-brain barrier, and reaches mitochondria directly. LeBaron points out that hydrogen’s bioavailability is unmatched — it penetrates areas where larger antioxidants, such as vitamins C or E, can’t go.
Once inside your mitochondria — the energy factories of your cells — it helps restore normal energy production. This mitochondrial support is key for chronic fatigue, liver disease, and metabolic decline, all of which share a common thread: energy dysfunction caused by oxidative stress.
• Hydrogen’s anti-inflammatory benefits extend beyond your liver — They also support neurological, cardiovascular, and immune function. LeBaron reports that animal and human studies reveal improvements in cognitive performance, reduced anxiety, and faster recovery after injury.
Hydrogen’s adaptogenic nature — its ability to help your body adapt to stress — means it raises antioxidant defenses when needed but steps back when balance is restored. This prevents the “overcorrection” that often happens with high-dose antioxidant supplements.
• For those living with chronic pain, fatigue, or inflammatory conditions, hydrogen therapy represents a way to take back control — It doesn’t replace a healthy lifestyle, but it enhances your body’s ability to repair itself.
When paired with other energy-supportive habits like adequate sunlight, nutrient-rich foods, and reduced seed oil intake, hydrogen accelerates recovery and resilience. LeBaron’s research underscores a key point: the route to healing chronic inflammation isn’t suppression — it’s restoration of balance at the cellular level.
• Hydrogen works because it aligns with how your body naturally regulates stress and energy production — Unlike drugs that target one pathway or symptom, hydrogen communicates with your body’s own systems, teaching them to recalibrate. This precision makes it effective for a wide range of issues, from NAFLD and cardiovascular damage to neuroinflammation and fatigue.
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Less Is More When It Comes to Benefits
It’s tempting to think that more hydrogen equals faster healing, but in this case, less is often more. Hydrogen therapy works best when it’s pulsed — periods of exposure followed by periods without. This intermittent approach enhances your body’s adaptive response and prevents tolerance, where your cells stop reacting as strongly.
• Pulse your intake — Drink hydrogen-rich water at specific times instead of sipping it throughout the day.
• Time your inhalation — Keep hydrogen gas sessions short (one to three hours) rather than continuous exposure.
• Take breaks — Give your body several hours each day without hydrogen supplementation so it recalibrates its signaling pathways.
• Not all hydrogen products deliver therapeutic doses — Measuring hydrogen concentration accurately requires gas chromatography, something most companies don’t do.
So, for those using molecular hydrogen at home, you’ll need to be cautious about product claims. The most reliable way to verify claims is to cross-reference methods verified in clinical trials. These include certain hydrogen-generating tablets that have been shown to produce therapeutic levels of hydrogen.
When used with intention, molecular hydrogen is one of the simplest, safest, and most effective ways to calm inflammation, repair your liver, and restore energy from the inside out. Your body already knows how to heal — hydrogen just gives it the spark to remember how.
How to Use Molecular Hydrogen to Heal Inflammation and Fatty Liver
If you’re dealing with chronic inflammation, fatigue, or a sluggish liver, it’s not just about easing discomfort — it’s about restoring energy at the cellular level. When oxidative stress overwhelms your system, your cells lose the ability to generate clean energy, setting the stage for insulin resistance and liver fat buildup.
Molecular hydrogen helps reset that system by teaching your body how to regulate inflammation, repair mitochondria, and restore balance from the inside out. Here’s how to make it work for you — safely, effectively, and sustainably.
1. Start with hydrogen-rich water daily to restore cellular balance — Drop one hydrogen tablet into a glass of room temperature water and drink it immediately after the tablet fully dissolves and the water turns cloudy. That cloudy look signals the presence of active hydrogen gas — the component that triggers healing.
If you’re dealing with liver inflammation, brain fog, or chronic fatigue, take hydrogen-rich water two to three times per day, at least an hour apart. This rhythmic “pulsing” gives your cells time to adapt and strengthens their internal defense systems rather than overwhelming them.
2. Use the right delivery method and timing — Hydrogen-rich water made from properly formulated tablets offers the most consistent and convenient way to supplement. Drink it immediately after preparation — don’t let it sit, or the hydrogen gas will dissipate.
If you prefer inhalation, keep sessions short — around one to three hours — rather than continuous exposure. Research and experience from experts like LeBaron show that pulsed use leads to better long-term results, as your cells respond more effectively when hydrogen is introduced intermittently rather than constantly.
3. Combine hydrogen therapy with habits that lower oxidative stress — Even the most powerful molecule can’t offset daily damage from poor diet, alcohol, and inactivity. Limit linoleic acid (LA) from seed oils to less than 3 grams per day and avoid alcohol — it’s a mitochondrial toxin that directly impairs liver recovery. Get natural sunlight exposure daily to recharge your cellular energy production. Pair hydrogen with these habits, and you’ll multiply its benefits, improving liver function, focus, and energy throughout the day.
4. Support your liver’s energy metabolism instead of depriving it — Starving your body with restrictive diets or extended fasting weakens mitochondrial function — the very system hydrogen helps heal. Focus on feeding your liver with healthy carbohydrates to maintain steady energy and promote fat metabolism — about 250 grams daily.
If your digestion is weak, start with easy-to-digest options like fruit and white rice before adding more fiber-rich whole foods. Once your liver has the energy and nutrients it needs, hydrogen will amplify its repair and detox capacity more efficiently.
5. Use hydrogen before mental or physical stress — Timing hydrogen intake around stressful events — such as before exercise, travel, or emotionally intense days — helps significantly reduce oxidative stress buildup. Drink hydrogen-rich water about 30 minutes before those stressors to buffer free radical surges. This approach gives your body extra resilience when it needs it most, improving energy, focus, and recovery afterward.
FAQs About Molecular Hydrogen
Q: What makes molecular hydrogen different from other antioxidants?
A: Unlike conventional antioxidants that indiscriminately neutralize all free radicals, molecular hydrogen targets only the most harmful species — particularly hydroxyl radicals — while preserving the beneficial ones your body needs for normal signaling and immune function. This selective action reduces inflammation without disrupting vital repair processes, making it safer and more effective for long-term use.
Q: How does molecular hydrogen help reverse fatty liver disease?
A: Hydrogen works by restoring balance at the cellular level. It reduces oxidative stress, calms inflammation, and improves mitochondrial energy production — the root causes of fat buildup in the liver. Studies show that hydrogen-rich water decreases liver fat and inflammation, while improving metabolism and body composition within weeks.
Q: What’s the best way to take molecular hydrogen?
A: Hydrogen-rich water made from properly formulated tablets is the most reliable and convenient delivery method. Drink it as soon as the tablet fully dissolves and the water turns cloudy — this ensures you’re getting active hydrogen gas.
Q: Is more hydrogen always better?
A: No. Hydrogen therapy works best when used intermittently or “pulsed.” Your body responds more effectively when hydrogen exposure alternates with rest periods. Drink it at specific times rather than continuously throughout the day, and limit inhalation sessions to one to three hours. This pattern enhances your body’s adaptive response and prevents tolerance.
Q: What lifestyle habits make hydrogen therapy more effective?
A: Hydrogen works best when paired with supportive lifestyle choices. Limit LA from seed oils to under 3 grams per day, avoid alcohol, and get daily sunlight exposure to boost mitochondrial energy production. Eat nourishing carbohydrates to keep your liver fueled, and use hydrogen before stressful events or exercise to reduce oxidative stress. These habits amplify hydrogen’s ability to restore energy, calm inflammation, and protect your liver and brain.
Inulin-Rich Vegetables Help Protect Your Liver from Fructose Damage
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/12/16/inulin-for-fatty-liver-disease.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola December 16, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- Fatty liver disease now affects nearly four in 10 adults, but research shows that eating inulin-rich vegetables like onions, garlic, and leeks helps your gut bacteria “consume” harmful sugars before they can damage your liver
- Scientists at UC Irvine discovered that inulin “trains” your gut microbes to block sugar overload, lower liver fat, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost antioxidant defenses that protect your cells from inflammation
- Inulin’s benefits begin in the small intestine, where microbes ferment fiber into compounds that intercept fructose early, reducing sugar spillover into the bloodstream and preventing new fat formation in the liver
- A small daily intake of cooked onions or garlic strengthens your gut-liver connection naturally, helping stabilize energy, reduce bloating, and improve digestion without relying on supplements
- Consistency matters more than quantity — Feeding your gut steady amounts of this natural fiber trains it to defend your liver, balance blood sugar, and support long-term metabolic health
Fatty liver disease now affects 38% of adults in the United States — a statistic that has increased by 50% in the past 30 years.1 This condition, characterized by the buildup of fat in liver cells, often progresses silently, with many people not realizing they have until they start experiencing symptoms like fatigue, abdominal discomfort, or abnormal liver enzyme levels. When left unaddressed, fatty liver disease can advance to inflammation, fibrosis, and even cirrhosis.
Centuries ago, people naturally ate foods that unknowingly protected their liver health. Garlic, onions, and leeks were common staples in traditional diets across Europe and Asia, prized not just for flavor but for how they “kept the body clean.” Modern science now confirms that these vegetables do much more than aid digestion. They actively train your gut microbes to handle sugar differently, reducing the metabolic load on your liver. And this benefit comes from a natural fiber called inulin.
What the Research Found About the ‘Fiber Revolution’ in Your Gut
A recent study published in Nature Metabolism and conducted by researchers from the UC Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine revealed that inulin-rich vegetables — such as onions, garlic, leeks, and chicory — play a central role in protecting your liver. In particular, increasing your intake of this naturally occurring, plant-based fiber changes the way gut bacteria behave, effectively blocking sugar from harming this vital organ.2
• What is inulin? To put it simply, inulin is a soluble, fermentable prebiotic fiber composed of fructose chains. It travels to the lower gut region where certain gut microbes digest and convert it into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and propionate.3 Inulin, as a dietary fiber, not only nourishes colon cells — it offers other benefits, one of which is protecting your liver from the damaging effects of fructose.
• The researchers conducted the study on male mice — This group was more susceptible to fatty liver. The mice were divided into three groups: One group received a fructose-rich diet to induce liver fat and insulin resistance, another received inulin with fructose, and the last was a control group.
• The research was particularly focused on individuals who were not obese — This is a group that’s often overlooked when it comes to metabolic disease prevention. Many people assume only those who are overweight develop fatty liver, but the fact is that even individuals with normal body weight can experience liver damage due to high fructose consumption.4
• They tracked where the sugar went — The researchers used what’s called isotope tracing, meaning there are special forms of fructose and water that can be followed as they move through metabolic pathways. These tracers allowed them to track exactly where the fructose went — whether it was broken down in the gut, converted to fat in the liver, or transformed into amino acids and antioxidants. This gave them a real-time view of how inulin changed the body’s internal chemistry.
• Here’s what they discovered — In mice given sugary HFCS water, adding inulin protected their metabolism. It prevented or reversed fatty liver, lowered harmful liver lipids, and improved insulin resistance. Mechanistically, it turned down fat-making, boosted fat-burning, and rerouted fructose to be broken down by gut microbes before it can overload the liver.
Why the Gut-Liver Axis Matters
Your liver and gut are in constant conversation. Every meal you eat, every sip of soda or bite of processed food, sends signals through this communication highway known as the gut-liver axis. This axis is not a metaphor but a literal connection made possible by the hepatic portal vein, a large blood vessel that carries nutrients, hormones, and microbial byproducts directly from your intestines to your liver.5
• When your gut is healthy, this system functions like a well-tuned messaging network — But when your gut bacteria are unbalanced, what scientists call dysbiosis, that communication turns toxic, flooding the liver with inflammatory compounds and metabolic waste. Over time, that constant exposure overwhelms your liver, leading to fat accumulation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and eventually, fatty liver disease.
• So what’s the role of inulin in this? According to Dr. Cholsoon Jang, inulin “changes the bacteria in the gut to promote the consumption of harmful dietary fructose.” In simpler terms, this means that the bacteria in your intestines become proactive and start eating up the sugar before it causes trouble. The result is less sugar “spilling over” to your liver, less fat buildup, and a stronger antioxidant response inside your liver to control inflammation.6
• Here’s one of the most fascinating findings from the featured study — Apparently, inulin’s protective process begins earlier in digestion than scientists previously believed. The small intestine, not just the colon, hosts bacterial communities capable of fermenting inulin. This early fermentation means that sugar molecules like fructose get intercepted before they can cause damage.
The study showed that these bacteria literally consume fructose — burning it as their own energy source before it spills into the bloodstream. This “sugar buffering” effect is one of the main reasons why inulin-rich foods are so effective at preventing fatty liver and insulin resistance.
• Inulin also helped prevent hepatic de novo lipogenesis — This is the biological term for the liver’s creation of new fat from excess sugar. When this process slows down, liver fat levels stabilize, blood sugar becomes easier to regulate, and inflammation declines. It’s a complete metabolic reset that starts with your microbiome, not your medicine cabinet.
• Once the gut was “trained” with inulin, the initial signs of fatty liver were reversed — These include reduced liver fat deposits and better antioxidant response. “Our findings provide insight into how fibre protects our health from harmful nutrients like fructose,” Jang commented.7
• The antioxidant activity was tied to an increase in the liver’s production of glutathione — Called “the master antioxidant,” glutathione is one of the most powerful detoxifying compounds in the body. Glutathione acts as the liver’s natural shield, neutralizing toxins, heavy metals, and oxidative waste. When you eat inulin-rich foods, your gut microbes generate signals that tell your liver to produce more of this crucial molecule, essentially upgrading its built-in defense system.
These findings point toward a future of personalized nutrition strategies. By identifying which types of gut bacteria are most efficient at processing fructose, healthcare practitioners could one day design customized diet plans or prescribe prebiotic or inulin supplementation for different individuals. In Dr. Jang’s words:
“By checking how well someone’s gut bacteria clears fructose before the body absorbs it, we can choose the right prebiotic or probiotic supplement for that person to improve results and reduce side effects.”8
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Food First — Onion and Garlic Lead the List
Inulin is found in a variety of vegetables, and chances are some of these are already in your kitchen pantry. These include onions, garlic, chicory root, artichokes, leeks and asparagus. These may seem ordinary, but their prebiotic fiber can help fortify your gut and act as a defensive shield for your liver. Among these, onion and garlic are the easiest to incorporate into most meals:
• It’s okay to start small — Even modest, consistent intake of inulin-rich vegetables, especially onions and garlic, can help strengthen the gut-liver axis that defends against sugar damage. A practical, food-first approach begins with a quarter to half a cup of cooked onion daily or half to one clove of garlic added to your regular meals.
Once your gut adjusts, small portions, like a teaspoon of finely chopped onion in a salad or a sliver of garlic in dressing two to three times per week can amplify the benefits.
• What matters most is consistency — Your gut bacteria need time to adapt and “learn” to process the inulin effectively. The research team found that microbial adaptation is what enables the gut to intercept fructose before it overwhelms the liver. By feeding your microbiome steadily, you’re training your gut to protect your liver every day.
• This gradual approach also taps into the principle of self-efficacy — This refers to the belief that small, repeatable actions can make a measurable difference. Seeing your digestion improve, your energy stabilize, and even your post-meal bloating diminish reinforces the motivation to stick with the habit. It’s not about restriction; it’s about building body confidence through achievable, everyday wins.
• To sustain the habit, personalize it — Connect your meals to outcomes that matter to you: clearer skin, lighter mornings, better digestion, or a sense of control over your health. Each time you chop garlic or caramelize onions, you’re not just cooking — you’re actively retraining your microbiome to protect your liver, improve sugar handling, and lower inflammation.
This sense of personal mastery builds long-term adherence far better than fear-based restriction. As the featured study emphasizes, the gut-liver axis thrives on regular input, not sporadic perfection. Each small meal you prepare is a biological signal to your body that healing is underway.
Other Inulin-Rich Vegetables You Can Try
If you want to mix things up, there are other vegetables that work through the same gut-liver mechanism. Rotating your sources helps your gut bacteria thrive in diversity, improving overall metabolic balance. Here are some inulin-rich vegetables to add to your meals (per 100-gram serving):9
• Leeks (6.5 g) — The white and light green parts are excellent for soups and stir-fries. Their gentle sweetness and high inulin content make them a smooth next step once you’ve mastered onions.
• Chicory root (41.6 g) — Often found in herbal coffee substitutes, it’s one of the richest natural sources of inulin. Start small by adding just a teaspoon of chicory blend at a time to test your comfort level.
• Jerusalem artichoke or sunchoke (18 g) — This vegetable is particularly high in inulin, so begin with very small portions (a few thin slices roasted or blended into soup). Once tolerated, it becomes a powerful ally in training your microbiome for optimal liver protection.
• Asparagus (2.5 g) — Although its inulin is not as high as other vegetables, this food has a well-rounded nutrition profile, offering minerals like copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, and more.
These everyday inulin-rich vegetables are far more than garnishes — they’re accessible forms of functional medicine you can prepare right in your kitchen. I recommend following this “food-first” approach, as it doesn’t require supplements or complex protocols — just consistency, mindfulness, and an understanding of how these humble kitchen staples translate directly into liver protection and long-term vitality.
How About Inulin Supplements?
Inulin supplements often appear in health stores labeled as “gut health boosters” or “prebiotic powders.” While they might seem like an easy shortcut, it’s important to understand that supplements are not a substitute for real food. This distinction matters because these vegetables provide more than fiber — they deliver enzymes, minerals, and other cofactors that shape how your microbiome responds.
• When you eat a whole vegetable, you’re offering your gut bacteria a complete ecosystem — These include water, nutrients, and structural fibers that slow fermentation and make digestion smoother.
In contrast, a powdered supplement delivers inulin in a concentrated dose that your system might not be ready for. For someone with a balanced gut, this might not cause issues. But if your microbiome is fragile or underdeveloped, which is common after years of stress, low-fiber diets, or antibiotic use, jumping straight into concentrated inulin can backfire.
• That said, there are situations where inulin supplementation can be helpful — If you’re under medical supervision and tracking your Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) score, which is a valuable diagnostic tool that helps assess insulin resistance, adding a measured dose of inulin powder under clinical guidance could make sense. It’s a strategic choice for individuals who need more controlled intake or who can’t tolerate raw or cooked vegetables easily.
Work with a knowledgeable clinician or nutritionist to help you identify a beneficial dose and gradually raise it while monitoring your response.
• Imagine it like strength training for your gut — You wouldn’t walk into a gym and lift 200 pounds on your first day. You start light, master your form, and increase gradually. The same goes for inulin. Whole foods are your training weights: gentle, consistent, and structured. Inulin powder, on the other hand, is advanced resistance: best reserved for when your body is ready for it.
Important Safety Considerations When Consuming Prebiotic Fibers Like Inulin
When you begin increasing prebiotic fiber — especially inulin — it’s normal to experience temporary bloating or gas. These symptoms are not “bad reactions”; they’re feedback from your microbiome.
• Your gut bacteria are adjusting to a new energy source — As they ferment inulin, they produce gases like hydrogen and carbon dioxide, which can cause mild bloating in the first few days or weeks. This is part of the microbial retraining process.
• The key is pacing — Start with very small amounts and increase slowly over time. If you’re using food, that might mean starting with a tablespoon of cooked onion per meal or half a clove of garlic. If you’re under medical care and using a powder, begin with as little as one to two grams daily and work up gradually. Jumping to a full serving too quickly overwhelms your microbiome and creates discomfort.
However, if you regularly feel bloated after meals, go days without a bowel movement or have frequent loose stools, even before you increase your inulin intake, your gut may be in poor shape and is not ready for high-fiber foods. These symptoms are telling you that your microbiome is imbalanced and your gut lining is inflamed or damaged. This is important, as you need to treat the gut overgrowth and fix the damage before reintroducing fermentable fibers like inulin.
• Avoid fiber and fermentable carbs if your digestion is impaired — A damaged gut can’t handle even “healthy” fiber-rich foods. Beans, leafy greens, cruciferous veggies and whole grains all ferment quickly and feed the wrong microbes when your gut is compromised. That drives more bloating, inflammation and gas. In this phase, you want fuel that doesn’t backfire, like whole fruit and cooked starches that digest cleanly without fermenting too fast.
• Reintroduce fermentable fibers in small amounts once your gut calms — When your bloating stops and your digestion becomes regular, that’s your green light. Start with resistant starches like cooked-and-cooled white potatoes or green bananas.
These feed butyrate-producing bacteria, which protect your gut lining and regulate inflammation. This is also when you can slowly add in inulin-rich vegetables like onion, garlic, and leeks. Keep portions small and build up as your tolerance improves (the next section will help you with this).
• Those with gut conditions are advised to approach with extra care — These include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Both conditions involve bacterial imbalance, and adding prebiotics too fast can feed the wrong microbes before balance is restored.
• Listening to your body is the ultimate feedback loop — Discomfort means your microbial community is rebalancing; improvement means they’ve adapted and are now protecting your liver, balancing your blood sugar, and supporting your metabolism. This process embodies the principle of personalization — understanding your unique response and adjusting based on what your body tells you.
A 7-Day Micro-Plan to Build Tolerance
This seven-day micro-plan works like a gentle training schedule for your microbiome. Each day adds just enough new stimulus to encourage microbial diversity, reduce inflammation, and minimize discomfort.
• Days 1 and 2: 2–3 tablespoons of cooked onion in one meal — Add sautéed or roasted onion to your main meal, mixing it into rice or soup. Cooked onion introduces inulin gradually while also supplying antioxidants like quercetin, which help reduce oxidative stress in your gut and liver.
Observe how your body reacts. Bloating, gas, or changes in bowel movement are signs that your microbes are adjusting, not that something is wrong. To manage these early effects, drink water slowly throughout the day and avoid eating too fast.
• Days 3 and 4: Add half a clove of cooked garlic — Garlic is slightly stronger than onion in both flavor and prebiotic potency. It contains allicin, a sulfur compound that supports immune balance and helps suppress harmful bacteria while nourishing beneficial ones.
This step builds microbial endurance. You’re teaching your gut flora to handle a broader range of fermentable fibers, which in turn improves how your liver processes sugars and fats. If you feel gassy, it’s simply feedback that your gut bacteria are producing SCFAs, the very compounds that protect your liver and balance your metabolism.
• Day 5: Include 2 tablespoons (cooked) leeks or chicory — These vegetables provide different strains of inulin and other prebiotic fibers, which encourage microbial variety. Chicory also contains polyphenols that act like fertilizers for your beneficial bacteria. Leeks, on the other hand, have a softer flavor and gentler fiber profile, making them perfect for soups and stews. This step marks the turning point where your gut begins to “graduate” from basic to intermediate tolerance.
• Day 6: Test 1 teaspoon raw onion in a dressing if tolerated — Raw onion introduces a stronger dose of inulin and live enzymes that help activate digestive processes. If you’ve tolerated the previous steps without excessive discomfort, mix one teaspoon of finely minced raw onion into a salad dressing or salsa. This reintroduces natural bacterial signaling compounds that stimulate bile flow.
If you feel mild bloating, reduce the portion or pair the meal with an acidic component such as vinegar or lemon. Acids help pre-digest fibers and ease fermentation pressure in your gut. This day is about testing boundaries safely.
• Day 7: Adjust upward or maintain based on comfort — This is where you customize your intake. If digestion feels light and your energy is stable, you can increase your portions slightly — maybe half a cup of cooked onion daily and one full clove of garlic spread across two meals. If you notice lingering discomfort, stay at your current level for a few more days before advancing. The goal is comfort and consistency, not speed.
This stage reinforces self-efficacy — you’re now in control of your microbiome’s pace of adaptation. You’ve built awareness around how your gut responds and learned to listen to your body’s cues. Over time, this approach strengthens both digestion and confidence in your ability to manage it.
|
A 7-Day Gut Training Plan Here’s a one-week plan to help your gut adjust to inulin-rich foods like onions and garlic — without bloating.
Slow progression lets your gut bacteria adapt, build resilience, and support liver health naturally. |
More Strategies to Address Liver Dysfunction
While inulin shows strong promise in helping protect your liver from sugar damage, it’s just one aspect of keeping this organ in optimal condition. Remember, your liver is your body’s central detox organ, and when it’s overloaded not only with sugar but with harmful fats, toxins, or nutrient gaps, it struggles to do its job efficiently. These tips help target the root causes of liver dysfunction so you can restore balance and help your body heal from the inside out.
1. Eliminate vegetable oils and alcohol — Vegetable oils are high in linoleic acid (LA), a polyunsaturated fat (PUF) that oxidizes and turns into toxic byproducts that damage your mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells. Alcohol is just as destructive, since it breaks down into a substance that injures your liver cells. Cut both alcohol and vegetable oils right now. For cooking, switch to grass fed butter, ghee, tallow, or coconut oil.
2. Optimize your carbohydrate intake — Aim for 200 to 250 grams of targeted carbohydrates daily from whole, unprocessed foods, adjusting upwards if you are highly active, based on your microbiome. As your digestion strengthens, introduce complex carbohydrates and starches gradually to maintain balanced energy and support metabolic function.
3. Eat choline-rich foods to support liver health — Choline helps package up fats and ship them out so your liver doesn’t become clogged. Without it, fat builds up inside your liver cells, leading to dysfunction and damage. The best food sources are pastured egg yolks and grass fed beef liver.
4. Consider taking a choline supplement if your diet falls short — Citicoline is one of the most effective forms, and doses between 500 milligrams (mg) and 2,500 mg per day have been shown to help your liver export fat while also boosting brain function.
5. Repair with sunlight and smart vitamin D use — Your skin is designed to make vitamin D from sunlight, and daily exposure supports not only your bones and immune system but also your liver’s ability to metabolize fat. But here’s the catch: if you’re still using vegetable oils, the LA stored in your skin increases your risk of sun damage. Eliminate those oils for at least six months before getting peak sun exposure (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). When sunlight isn’t an option, supplement with vitamin D3.
It’s also important to test and track your vitamin D to stay on target. Instead of guessing, check your vitamin D levels with a simple blood test at least twice a year. Aim for 60 to 80 ng/mL (150 to 200 nmol/L). This range supports healthy liver function, balanced immunity, and energy production.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Inulin and Fatty Liver Disease
Q: Does inulin help fatty liver?
A: Yes. A study published in Nature Metabolism journal, clearly demonstrated that inulin-trained microbes intercept fructose early during digestion, before it reaches your liver. This interception prevents fat from building up in liver cells, improving overall liver function and reducing inflammation.
In simpler terms, inulin helps “train” your gut bacteria to eat up sugar first, so your liver doesn’t have to. For anyone managing blood sugar issues, energy swings, or early signs of metabolic imbalance, this is one of the easiest, most natural ways to protect liver health through diet.
Q: Is inulin good for liver health?
A: Inulin does more than help — it transforms how your liver handles sugar and toxins. The study found that it boosts the production of glutathione, your liver’s most powerful antioxidant molecule. Inulin also reduces the “spillover” of sugar from your gut into your bloodstream, which means your liver doesn’t have to convert that excess sugar into fat. Over time, this lowers oxidative stress and supports healthy metabolic rhythm.
Q: Which vegetables have the most inulin?
A: The best natural sources of inulin are those you probably already keep in your kitchen — onions, garlic, leeks, chicory root, and Jerusalem artichoke. Cooked onions and garlic are the easiest and most tolerable ways to start, especially if you’re new to prebiotic fibers.
Leeks offer a gentle alternative that’s excellent for soups and stews, while chicory root and Jerusalem artichoke deliver higher doses for those further along in their gut restoration journey. Each of these vegetables nourishes your beneficial microbes, improves digestion, and supports your gut-liver communication loop.
Q: How much inulin is safe?
A: There’s no one-size-fits-all number, because everyone’s microbiome adapts differently. The key is not how much you eat, but how gradually you introduce it. Think of it as training your gut, not forcing it. Start with small servings — like a few tablespoons of cooked onion — and increase only when your digestion feels comfortable. This slow approach minimizes gas and ensures your bacteria adjust properly.
Q: Why does inulin cause gas or bloating?
A: When you first increase your intake of inulin, your gut bacteria begin fermenting it into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — molecules that nourish your colon and reduce inflammation. This fermentation produces gas as a natural byproduct. If you experience bloating or mild discomfort, that’s a sign your microbes are adjusting to a new food source, not that something’s wrong.
The best approach is to start low, go slow, and focus on cooked vegetables before introducing raw forms. As your microbial community becomes stronger and more balanced, these early symptoms typically fade.
Q: Is food-based inulin better than supplements?
A: Absolutely. Whole foods provide inulin alongside natural cofactors like water, minerals, and enzymes that help your gut process fiber efficiently. Supplements, in contrast, deliver concentrated doses that can overwhelm an untrained gut.
- 1 Diabetes Spectr 2024;37(1):9-19
- 2 Nature Metabolism, 2025, volume 7, pages 1801-1818
- 3 Medical News Today, November 22, 2023
- 4, 6 Scitech Daily, October 9, 2025
- 5 Cleveland Clinic, Portal Vein
- 7 Money Control, October 14, 2025
- 8 New York Post, October 12, 2025
- 9 Doctors Health Press, April 11, 2018
Common Dry-Cleaning Chemical Linked to Liver Damage
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/11/25/tetrachloroethylene-pce-liver-damage.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola November 25, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- A widely used grease remover and dry-cleaning chemical called tetrachloroethylene (PCE) has been linked to liver fibrosis, a condition that causes scarring and loss of liver function even in people who don’t drink alcohol or have obesity
- Researchers found that people with measurable levels of PCE in their blood were three times more likely to have liver fibrosis, and for every tiny one-nanogram-per-milliliter increase in PCE, the risk increased fivefold
- PCE exposure often occurs through inhaling fumes from dry-cleaned clothes, contaminated air, or drinking water, and the chemical can also enter through the skin, affecting the liver, kidneys, heart, and nervous system
- Long-term exposure to PCE has been linked not only to liver disease but also to nerve damage, reproductive issues, and several cancers, including those of the bladder and liver, prompting the EPA to begin phasing it out
- Lower your risk of liver damage by switching to solvent-free wet cleaning, letting dry-cleaned clothes air out before use, replacing household products that contain PCE, and supporting liver repair through clean nutrition, hydration, and sun exposure
Liver disease can arise from certain factors, such as alcohol consumption, a high-fructose diet, excessive fat buildup in the organ, and diseases like hepatitis B or C. But now, research reveals another possible cause — and it’s found in many everyday products like household degreasers and dry-cleaned clothes.
This chemical, known as tetrachloroethylene (PCE), is used to remove grease from metal parts, fabrics, and household surfaces. PCE is now under intense scrutiny after new findings reveal that it can lead to liver damage, particularly liver fibrosis.
Researchers Link PCE to Hidden Liver Damage
A recent study published by researchers from Keck Medicine of USC analyzed PCE exposure affects the liver. The study, published in Liver International,1 examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a long-running health survey that tracks chemical exposure and disease trends in the United States.2
• Conducting the study — The researchers measured PCE exposure by analyzing blood samples from 1,614 adults aged 20 and older collected between 2017 and 2020 — the most recent data available. They found that about 7% of the population had measurable levels of PCE in their bloodstream, which is a clear sign of ongoing environmental exposure.
• Comparing PCE levels — The researchers next compared individuals with detectable PCE in their blood to those without it. What they found was striking — those exposed to this chemical were three times more likely to develop significant liver fibrosis. This implies that even people who don’t drink alcohol or are obese could still develop liver scarring due to this invisible environmental toxin. In addition, these findings remained consistent regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or education level.
• What is liver fibrosis? Simply put, fibrosis refers to scarring that disrupts the liver’s ability to filter toxins and regulate metabolism. It’s characterized by appetite loss, nausea, unexplained weight loss, and weakness. When fibrosis becomes severe and extensive, it leads to liver cirrhosis.3
• The higher the levels, the greater the risk — For every single nanogram per milliliter increase of PCE in the bloodstream — an amount so tiny it’s measured in billionths of a gram — the risk of liver fibrosis increased fivefold. This indicates that even small, consistent exposures could have serious long-term effects, making it particularly concerning for those regularly exposed to the chemical.
• PCE exposure overrides typical liver disease risk factors — Notably, when this chemical was present, alcohol use and liver fat accumulation associated with obesity and other health conditions did not seem to contribute to significant liver fibrosis. According to Dr. Brian P. Lee, hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine and the study’s lead author:
“Patients will ask, how can I have liver disease if I don’t drink and I don’t have any of the health conditions typically associated with liver disease, and the answer may be PCE exposure. The findings suggest that exposure to PCE may be the reason why one person develops liver disease while someone with the exact same health and demographic profile does not.”4
Facts About PCE — What It Is and How You Can Become Exposed
The researchers of the featured study noticed something unexpected about the population most at risk — They found that those who had greater PCE exposure came from higher-income households.5 This is because these people were more prone to getting their clothes dry-cleaned. In fact, dry cleaning is one of the main sources of exposure to this chemical.6
• PCE is colorless and used in various products — Also called perchloroethylene or ethylene tetrachloride, this clear, colorless, human-made liquid has been used not just as a dry-cleaning solvent, but also in household goods and other industrial settings. It has numerous uses, such as for removing grease, a heat transfer medium, and a drying agent for metals.
• Its odor is defined as sweet and similar to ether — However, relying on smell to detect exposure is misleading because the odor threshold (the level at which a person notices the smell) varies greatly and usually appears long after toxic exposure has already occurred. That means you could be breathing dangerous levels of PCE without even realizing it.
• Contaminated air and water are also sources of PCE — This chemical is released into the air over time, especially from freshly dry-cleaned clothes that continue to emit fumes even after cleaning. It also contaminates drinking water when spills or improper disposal allow the chemical to seep through soil layers and enter the groundwater supply.7
• PCE can easily enter the body — It can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or even enter through contaminated water or food. Once inside your body, it affects multiple organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, and nervous system.
• Previous studies have linked this chemical to liver damage — While the featured study did shed light on how PCE can lead to liver fibrosis, there are earlier studies that have warned about its liver-damaging effects. According to an archived report from Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), PCE exposure has been associated with conditions such as hepatomegaly (an enlarged liver) and hepatocellular injury (damage to liver cells).8
Laboratory and occupational studies have also shown elevated levels of liver enzymes, indicating cellular stress and inflammation. Workers exposed to high levels of PCE in dry-cleaning facilities were found to develop these changes far more often than those who were not exposed.
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PCE’s Dangers Extend Beyond the Liver
Because of its toxic nature, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated a 10-year plan to phase out PCE use in dry cleaning and has either banned or tightly restricted its use in many workplaces. Still, the chemical continues to appear in certain products and remains widely used in countries that lack comparable safety regulations.9 This is particularly concerning, as PCE has been associated with a wide range of side effects. Although some are mild, others are severe and life-threatening.10
• Physical contact with the chemical is dangerous — When PCE comes into contact with your skin and eyes, it will lead to irritation and burning. The skin may develop rashes, blisters, redness, dryness, and cracking as well. When inhaled, it will irritate the nose, throat, and lungs.
• Prolonged exposure can lead to more serious effects — These include nerve damage, heart rhythm problems, and reproductive harm. Pulmonary edema, a dangerous buildup of fluid in the lungs, can also occur with chronic exposure. It causes difficulty breathing, making it a life-threatening condition.
• The central nervous system is one of the most sensitive targets of PCE toxicity — This means your brain and nerves respond to the chemical even before other organs show damage. People exposed to this chemical via air or water often develop symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, and headaches.
These neurological symptoms occur because PCE acts like an anesthetic. It slows brain activity and interferes with neurotransmission (the process by which nerve cells communicate). What’s most troubling is that these symptoms often fade once someone leaves the contaminated environment, making it easy to overlook or misdiagnose.
For anyone who works with solvents, noticing recurring “brain fog” or lightheadedness after a shift could be a warning sign that the body is overloaded with toxins.
• Kidney damage was another major finding highlighted in the ATSDR report — Studies have documented increases in urinary proteins such as beta-2 microglobulin and lysozymes among chronically exposed workers, which are early warning signs of tubular injury in the kidneys.
• The reproductive system also appears highly vulnerable — PCE exposure has been linked to menstrual irregularities, changes in semen quality, reduced fertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and low birth weight. Although the evidence varies across populations, researchers consistently found that PCE crosses the placenta and even appears in breast milk.
• PCE is carcinogenic — The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a probable human carcinogen;11 it’s strongly linked to several cancers in both humans and animals, which is why it needs to be handled with extreme caution. According to the New Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet:
“There is evidence that it causes cancer of the liver, esophagus, bladder, and other types of cancer in humans. It has also been shown to cause cancer of the liver and leukemia in animals.
There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level.”12
Limit Your Exposure to These Liver-Damaging Chemicals
The researchers highlight the importance of their findings, particularly for people who are at high risk of liver damage. “If more people with PCE exposure are screened for liver fibrosis, the disease can be caught earlier and patients may have a better chance of recovering their liver function,” Lee said.13
• The easiest way to reduce the risk is to remove the main sources of PCE in your environment — For example, if you use dry cleaning services, switch to wet-cleaning or CO₂-based methods that don’t rely on solvents. When you need to dry-clean garments, hang them outside or in a well-ventilated space for at least 24 hours before wearing or storing them.
• Check your household chemicals as well — If you have household degreasers, adhesive removers, or stain removers that list “perchloroethylene,” “tetrachloroethylene,” or “PCE” on the label, get rid of them immediately. Every change you make — no matter how small — reduces the chemical load your liver has to process each day.
• Beware of other liver-damaging “forever chemicals,” too — In particular, exposure to polyfluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS), which include PFOA and PFOS, has been associated with fatty liver disease. When these endocrine-disrupting chemicals accumulate in the liver tissues, they can accelerate metabolic changes that lead to fatty liver. Read more about it in “Toxic To-Go Containers Linked to Liver Disease.”
More Strategies to Protect Your Liver Health
Your liver is one of the largest and most vital organs in the body. It performs more than 500 vital functions, such as detoxification, energy regulation, bile production, nutrient storage, immune function, and more. Many of these processes take place simultaneously.14
Everything you eat, drink, breathe, and absorb through your skin eventually passes through the liver for evaluation and processing. Without its continuous work, your body’s internal balance, from metabolism to immunity, would unravel in a matter of days. Hence, it’s only prudent to take extra steps to keep it well-functioning. In addition to avoiding PCE, below are additional strategies to keep your liver healthy and thriving.
• Eliminate linoleic acid (LA) and alcohol from your diet — Consuming processed and junk foods loaded with soybean, canola, corn, or anything labeled “vegetable oil,” puts your liver under constant assault. Industrial seed oils are loaded with LA, which is metabolized into toxic byproducts called oxidized linoleic acid metabolites (OXLAMs). These are unstable, highly damaging molecules that disrupt cell membranes and set off chronic inflammation.
Meanwhile, alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde, a reactive aldehyde that interferes with your liver’s ability to detoxify, regenerate, and store energy. If you already have belly fat, insulin resistance, or elevated liver enzymes, it’s vital to cut out both seed oils and alcohol to give your liver a chance to heal.
• Prioritize choline-rich foods — Studies have shown that choline deficiency directly contributes to fatty liver disease and that restoring adequate levels helps reverse fat accumulation.15 The best food sources are pastured egg yolks (look for low-PUFA eggs) and grass fed beef liver.
• Maintain a healthy weight — Studies show that waist circumference is a stronger predictor of liver health than weight alone. Keeping your waistline in check and maintaining a healthy weight through a combination of a healthy diet and regular physical activity helps ease the pressure on your liver.16
• Be physically active — Incorporating movement in your life is linked to lower levels of liver enzymes, which are a key marker of liver damage and dysfunction. Taking short walks, even just 10 to 15 minutes after meals, helps lower blood sugar spikes, easing the metabolic load on your liver.
• Get adequate high-quality sleep — Maintain a consistent bedtime routine so you can get adequate, high-quality sleep at night. Getting enough rest at night allows your liver to repair and detoxify. It’s also important to get early morning sunlight to reset your circadian rhythm. Check out my top sleep tips for more strategies to get a good night’s sleep.
For a more comprehensive guide to maintaining a healthy liver, especially as you grow old, read “How to Keep Your Liver Healthy in Your 50s and Beyond.” It provides lifestyle and dietary strategies, along with evidence-based supplementation, that will help your liver stay resilient as you age.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Liver Damage
Q: What is tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and where is it found?
A: Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene (PCE) or ethylene tetrachloride, is a colorless chemical commonly used in dry cleaning, metal degreasing, and some household cleaning products. It’s released into the air from freshly dry-cleaned clothes and can contaminate drinking water through spills or improper disposal that seep into soil and groundwater.
Q: How does PCE exposure affect your liver?
A: Exposure to PCE damages liver cells, leading to a condition called liver fibrosis, a buildup of scar tissue that disrupts the liver’s ability to filter toxins and regulate metabolism. Studies show that even small increases in PCE levels in the blood raise the risk of liver fibrosis significantly, even in people who don’t drink alcohol or have other common liver disease risk factors.
Q: What other health problems are linked to PCE exposure?
A: In addition to liver damage, PCE exposure affects the nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive organs. It’s been associated with dizziness, headaches, confusion, nerve injury, heart rhythm problems, and reduced fertility. Long-term exposure is also linked to several cancers, including bladder, liver, and lymphatic cancers.
Q: How can you limit your exposure to PCE?
A: To reduce your risk, switch from traditional dry cleaning to wet-cleaning or CO₂-based methods. Air out dry-cleaned clothing outdoors before wearing or storing it. Check household products like degreasers and stain removers — if they list “perchloroethylene” or “tetrachloroethylene,” replace them with safer alternatives.
Q: What are the best ways to protect and support your liver naturally?
A: You can protect your liver by eliminating alcohol and seed oils from your diet, as both add extra toxic stress. Eat choline-rich foods like pastured egg yolks and grass fed beef liver, get daily sunlight to support cellular energy production, and stay active with short walks after meals. These habits help your liver repair, detoxify, and maintain long-term health.
- 1 Liver International, November 2025, Volume 45, Issue 11, e70398
- 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13 News-Medical.net, October 23, 2025
- 3 Alpha Digestive and Liver Centre, Liver Fibrosis/Cirrhosis
- 5 Keck Medicine of USC, October 23, 2025
- 6, 12 NJ Health, Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
- 8, 10 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, May 26, 2023
- 14 Johns Hopkins Medicine, 5 Ways to Be Kind to Your Liver
- 15 Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7159
- 16 Medscape, August 6, 2025
Studies Raise Questions About Keto’s Impact on Liver and Heart Health
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/11/18/keto-diet-liver-heart-health-risks.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola November 18, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- While short-term ketogenic diets may aid weight loss, new research links prolonged ketosis to liver stress, impaired insulin secretion, and cardiovascular problems
- Long-term fat reliance increases circulating free fatty acids, burdening the liver, disrupting glucose regulation, and weakening metabolic flexibility — key factors in overall energy stability and heart health
- Elevated liver enzymes and triglyceride levels on keto indicate hepatic overload. This signals that the body is struggling to manage excess fat turnover and oxidation
- Treat keto as a short-term metabolic intervention, not a lifestyle diet. Gradually reintroduce whole-food carbohydrates to support steady energy, hormonal balance, and overall metabolic health
- To support balanced metabolism and long-term liver and heart health, keep total fat below 30% of daily calories, eliminate seed oils from your diet, and consume sufficient dietary fiber
For several years, I recommended the ketogenic diet as a way to optimize your metabolic and mitochondrial health. Restricting carbohydrates and shifting the body to rely on fat for fuel seemed, at the time, to be a sound strategy for stabilizing blood sugar and enhancing endurance. Backed by a growing body of published research, it appeared to offer a logical and effective route toward better energy regulation and improved metabolic flexibility.
However, after studying the work of the late Ray Peat, Ph.D., my perspective shifted. His insights into the bioenergetic theory of health revealed how carbohydrate availability is tied to your body’s capacity to sustain healthy energy production. The more I examined his work, the clearer it became that long-term carbohydrate restriction could work against many of the very systems it was meant to support.
Your liver and heart appear to be especially vulnerable under the metabolic strain of a high-fat, low-carb diet. That vulnerability has come under closer scrutiny in a recent Science Advances study1 that examined how prolonged adherence to a ketogenic diet affects metabolic balance, insulin regulation, and organ function. Their findings raise important questions about whether keto side effects outweigh its benefits.
Does Keto Raise Liver Enzymes or Cause Fatty Liver?
In the featured study, researchers examined the long-term keto liver effects in mice for nearly a year. The goal was to determine whether a ketogenic diet, often promoted for weight management and metabolic improvement, might instead strain the liver’s ability to process and regulate fat over time and compromise overall metabolic health.2
• Liver distress emerged despite lower body weight — The study found that even though mice on the ketogenic diet gained less weight than those fed a high-fat, high-carb diet, their liver profiles revealed signs of distress. Plasma triglycerides and non-esterified fats (free fatty acids released from stored fat) were significantly elevated, pointing to hyperlipidemia, a state of excess circulating fat in the bloodstream.
Male mice also developed hepatic steatosis (fat accumulation in the liver), along with increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. ALT is an enzyme concentrated inside liver cells and plays a role in amino acid metabolism. When liver cells are damaged or die, ALT leaks into the bloodstream, raising measurable levels. Elevated ALT directly reflects hepatocellular injury and indicates that the liver is under metabolic or inflammatory stress.
• Broader metabolic stress accompanied liver injury — Mice on the ketogenic diet developed glucose intolerance, meaning their bodies were less able to keep blood sugar stable after eating, and impaired insulin secretion, showing that the pancreas was not releasing enough insulin to regulate glucose. Together, these findings indicate that liver stress was part of a whole-body imbalance.
In particular, the pancreatic β cells (the cells that make and release insulin) showed disruptions in protein trafficking within the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, which fold and package proteins for secretion. This dysfunction resembled what is seen in early diabetes, where the machinery for insulin release becomes compromised.
• Microscopic evidence confirmed cellular damage — Electron microscopy revealed lipotoxic injury in the liver cells. The Golgi apparatus appeared dilated and fragmented, and genes linked to protein stress responses were upregulated. This pattern shows that long-term exposure to high lipid levels not only drives fat buildup but also interferes with protein processing and communication within cells, further aggravating liver dysfunction.
• Animal findings suggest parallels to human liver responses — Although this work was conducted in mice, the core mechanisms involved in fat regulation, glucose control, and protein processing are highly conserved across species. The authors wrote that their findings “have relevant translational ramifications” and “caution against the systematic use of a KD as a health-promoting dietary intervention.” The table below summarizes the animal findings alongside their human relevance:
Liver Outcomes — Enzymes and Steatosis
| Aspect | Preclinical (Science Advances, 2025) |
Human Relevance (as noted by authors) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Mice | Not studied directly; authors emphasized the need for human research to confirm whether similar effects occur |
| Exposure | Long-term ketogenic feeding (~1 year) | Prolonged high-fat intake under carbohydrate restriction may have comparable metabolic implications in humans, but further trials are required |
| Main signal | Marked hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, elevated ALT, impaired glucose tolerance, and reduced insulin secretion | Findings carry “relevant translational ramifications,” suggesting caution when applying long-term ketogenic diets for metabolic health |
| Interpretation | Chronic ketogenic feeding stresses liver and pancreatic metabolism, indicating risk of liver injury and glucose dysregulation | Authors caution that extended ketogenic use could have harmful effects on metabolic health, especially regarding β-cell function, plasma lipid levels, and liver health |
• Metabolic deterioration extends beyond the liver — In his analysis of the Science Advances study, bioenergetic researcher Georgi Dinkov added that chronic ketogenic patterns not only damage the liver but also suppress overall energy metabolism by reducing lean muscle mass. This has far-reaching metabolic consequences, since muscle is the most metabolically active tissue in the body and a major driver of resting energy use. He explained:
“[T]he resting metabolic rate (RMR) is determined primarily by the ratio of lean mass to fat mass. Thus, as the amount of muscle loss overtakes the amount of fat loss with chronic ingestion of keto diets, the RMR drops significantly. As such, after the person stops the keto diet and goes back to even low-to-moderate carb diets, the formerly keto diet patient rapidly regains the weight lost as a result of the keto diet, and regains it mostly in the form of fat.
Since fat is not nearly as metabolically active as muscle tissue, the newly re-obesified person not only regains all of the lost weight, but almost always exceeds the initial weight before the keto diet was started and finds that they keep gaining weight even if they restrict the calories way below what they used to consume prior to the keto diet.
That is due to the fact that the RMR dropped as a result of the keto diet (and muscle loss) and the regular diet, which the former keto patient used to consume and maintain a stable (though high) weight on, becomes directly obesogenic due to the much lower RMR.”3
These keto side effects often develop silently, without obvious symptoms. If you notice rising liver enzymes or a dull ache under your right rib cage, it may signal that your liver is under stress from the metabolic load. That’s the time to reassess your macronutrient balance before the strain turns chronic.
Why Would LDL Jump on Keto and Who Are ‘Hyper-Responders’?
In a detailed review published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers from the Mayo Clinic examined a striking pattern among people who experience extreme cholesterol elevations while following a ketogenic diet. This group, often referred to as “hyper-responders,” shows a disproportionate increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) “bad” cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB), the particles that actually carry cholesterol through the blood.4,5
• LDL levels spiked dramatically in keto followers — The study reviewed clinical records of 17 adults who presented with LDL cholesterol levels above 190 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) while adhering to a high-fat, very-low-carb diet. Before starting keto, their mean LDL level was about 129 mg/dL. After roughly 12 months of strict adherence, that value rose by an average of 245%.
• ApoB reflects the number of cholesterol-carrying particles — Each LDL particle contains one molecule of apolipoprotein B (apoB), a structural protein that anchors cholesterol and triglycerides within the particle. ApoB therefore reflects not just how much cholesterol is present, but how many LDL particles are circulating. The more particles you have, the greater the chance they’ll penetrate inflamed artery walls and promote atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup.
• Genetic predisposition amplified the effect — Ten of the 17 patients had family histories of early heart disease or inherited lipid disorders. Five underwent genetic testing, and two carried mutations in the LDL receptor (LDL-R) gene, which impairs the body’s ability to remove LDL from circulation.
This means LDL particles linger in the blood longer, compounding the cholesterol rise. The researchers suggested that both diet composition and genetic background contributed to the extreme lipid response.
• Lean individuals showed the greatest LDL surge — The largest LDL increases appeared in participants with lower body mass index (BMI). The authors proposed that when carbohydrate intake is severely restricted, leaner individuals rely more heavily on fat oxidation, burning fat for fuel.
This shift ramps up production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles, which transport triglycerides from the liver. As VLDL offloads its fat cargo, it converts into LDL and HDL, explaining why even metabolically healthy or athletic people may see dramatic LDL spikes during keto adaptation.
• Stopping keto reversed the effects — In the study, when patients stopped the ketogenic diet, their LDL levels dropped by an average of 220% within nine months. This rebound emphasizes why anyone with a family history of early heart disease, lipid metabolism variants, or an unexplained rise in LDL or apoB while on keto should do so under medical supervision with regular lipid monitoring.
While the authors blamed saturated fats for higher cardiovascular risk among those on a high-fat, low-carb diet, I believe this repeats the same flawed narrative that has misled the public for decades. I’ll expand on this later, but for now, remember that any discussion of keto’s heart effects needs to move beyond the outdated “saturated fat equals heart disease” myth. The issue appears less about saturated fat itself and more about the metabolic overload created by extreme fat consumption.
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Are Heart Palpitations on Keto a Red Flag — or Just Electrolytes?
Keto heart palpitations are among the more common side effects people notice soon after beginning this diet, especially during the first days or weeks of carbohydrate restriction. While mild, short-lived palpitations often resolve, persistent or worsening irregularity can signal deeper strain on the cardiovascular system. Recognizing this connection allows you to support your metabolism without ignoring what your heart is telling you.6,7
• Electrolyte loss drives early palpitations — When carbohydrate intake drops sharply, insulin levels fall and glycogen (stored carbohydrate) is depleted. This shift prompts the kidneys to excrete water along with key minerals, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
These are the body’s electrolytes, which regulate the electrical signals that control heartbeat and muscle contraction. As they drop, the heart’s rhythm can become irregular or faster than usual (tachycardia), especially if hydration is inadequate. Replenishing electrolytes typically stabilizes symptoms within days.
• Fat-based fuel changes cardiac metabolism — Because ketogenic diets push the heart to depend almost entirely on fat oxidation instead of glucose for fuel, this metabolic shift can have unintended effects on cardiac performance, including disturbances in the heart’s electrical rhythm.
Experimental studies in animals also indicate that long-term ketogenic feeding may promote adverse remodeling of the heart muscle — characterized by fibrosis and changes in tissue structure — that can interfere with normal electrical conduction and raise the likelihood of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.8
• When to address symptoms — Occasional palpitations during keto adaptation often resolve with hydration and mineral-rich foods like leafy greens and bone broth. However, ongoing rapid or irregular heartbeats, chest tightness, or palpitations accompanied by dizziness or shortness of breath require prompt evaluation. These may reflect electrical or structural strain on the heart, especially in individuals with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or pre-existing heart disease.
• Simple checks before medical evaluation — Ensure adequate hydration, avoid caffeine and stimulant intake, and reassess whether palpitations persist once electrolytes stabilize. Thyroid hormone dosing, anemia, and overtraining can also contribute. If the symptoms continue after addressing these factors, a medical evaluation is essential. A basic electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood panel can identify early electrical or metabolic disturbances before they progress.
Learn more about the cardiovascular effects of ketogenic diets in “The Ketogenic Diet Can Put Your Cardiovascular Health at Risk.”
Could a Higher-Carb, Lower-Fat Diet Be Safer for Your Heart and Liver?
The fact is, your body requires glucose to function properly. When carbohydrate intake drops too low for too long, your body compensates by producing glucose from cortisol through a process called gluconeogenesis. This involves breaking down amino acids from muscle tissue to create glucose for essential energy needs.
• Cortisol’s real role in metabolism — Cortisol belongs to a class of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids.9 The prefix gluco refers to glucose (sugar),10 while cortico indicates its origin in the adrenal cortex.11
Although commonly labeled a stress hormone, cortisol’s primary biological purpose is to raise blood sugar when glucose and glycogen (the liver’s stored form of glucose) run low. When this shortage is detected, cortisol activates the PEPCK enzyme, triggering gluconeogenesis.12
• Chronic cortisol elevation signals metabolic imbalance — When cortisol remains elevated due to prolonged carb restriction, it drives inflammation and weakens immune function.13 This persistent stress state undermines long-term metabolic and hormonal health. While low-carb diets may promote short-term weight loss or glycemic control, sustained glucose deprivation pushes the body into a stress-driven, catabolic mode, breaking down tissue to meet energy needs.
• The Randle Cycle explains fat-glucose competition — Insights from Peat’s bioenergetic framework and related metabolic research highlight the Randle Cycle, a cellular “fuel switch” that determines whether your mitochondria burn fat or glucose at a given time. Think of it as a railroad junction — only one train (fuel source) can pass at once.
• For efficient glucose metabolism, the fat load must remain moderate — When dietary fat exceeds about 30% of total calories — lower if you’re overweight — the body shifts toward fat oxidation. This suppresses glucose use inside mitochondria, forcing glucose to remain in the bloodstream and raising blood sugar.
Balancing carbohydrate and fat intake ensures the Randle Cycle stays aligned with energy demand rather than metabolic stress. In a previous interview I had with Dinkov, he explained:
“I’ve noticed that between 15% and 20% [dietary fat] is probably where most people, in their current health state, can metabolize the fat without causing problems for the glucose through the Randle cycle. Especially Type 2 diabetics.
Most of them are overweight or obese, which means they have two sources of fats — one through the diet and the second one from their fatty tissue, because there’s always some lipolysis going on. So for diabetic people, it’s probably a good idea to lower the intake of fat from the diet, because they already have a lot coming from their own bodies.
There’s so many clinics around the world that treat and even cure Type 2 diabetes by putting them on a really restrictive diet until they lose most of their fat. And then suddenly, the metabolism of glucose gets restarted. I think this directly shows you that the problem with glucose wasn’t the glucose itself.
It wasn’t the glucose that was fattening them up. They had too much fat in their bodies, and once you get rid of that fat, no matter how you do it, the problems when metabolizing glucose disappear which, to me, is a great testament to the Randle Cycle.”
Shifting from a chronically low-carb pattern to a more balanced, carbohydrate-inclusive diet is one of the simplest ways to restore metabolic stability. By doing so, you create an internal environment where both your heart and liver can function at their natural pace — energetic, steady, and free of the constant biochemical tension that defines long-term ketosis. For a deeper look at why glucose is the body’s cleanest, most efficient fuel, read “Glucose — The Ideal Fuel for Your Cells.”
Rebalancing Your Macronutrients for Optimal Metabolism
When it comes to adjusting your macronutrient intake, a sensible approach is needed. The goal is not to fear any one macronutrient but to use each in the right proportion to keep metabolism functioning optimally.
1. Moderate your fat intake — While you need to lessen your fat consumption, that doesn’t mean fats need to be removed from your diet entirely. Make no mistake, fats — especially from clean, stable sources — remain essential for optimal health. The goal is to keep total dietary fat below 30% of your daily calories.
2. Eliminate linoleic acid (LA) from your diet — Common sources include seed oils like soybean, corn, canola, sunflower, and safflower oils, from your diet. Keep your LA intake below 5 grams a day — and if possible, under 2 grams. Replace industrial oils with traditional fats that resist oxidation, such as butter, tallow, and coconut oil.
For decades, government dietary policies encouraged Americans to replace these traditional fats with so-called “heart-healthy” vegetable oils. These guidelines, based on outdated lipid theories, convinced much of the public that seed oils were safer than saturated fats. Yet modern biochemical and clinical evidence shows that LA oxidizes easily, producing toxic byproducts that damage cells, fuel inflammation, and increase oxidative stress.14,15
To help you keep track of your intake, I recommend you download the Mercola Health Coach app, which will be out this year. One of its main features is the Seed Oil Sleuth, which calculates your vegetable oil intake to the tenth of a gram.
3. Choose healthy carbohydrates — Replace refined starches and processed sugars with nutrient-dense, whole-food carbohydrates like ripe fruits, root vegetables, sweet potatoes, and white rice. These restore glycogen stores in your liver and muscles, regulate blood sugar, and reduce the stress-driven glucose production that occurs during low-carb restriction.
Including resistant starches such as green bananas or cooked-and-cooled potatoes also feeds beneficial bacteria, increasing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate that calm inflammation and protect the gut lining.
4. Consume sufficient dietary fiber — It’s ideal to consume about 30 grams of fiber. However, if your gut is inflamed or imbalanced, increase fiber gradually since pathogenic bacteria can also ferment it, producing endotoxins.
As your gut flora normalizes, aim for 200 to 250 grams of carbohydrates from whole, unprocessed foods to fully support microbial diversity and mucosal healing. For an in-depth understanding of this approach, read “Butyrate — The Metabolic Powerhouse Fueling the Gut and Beyond.”
5. Know when to use keto — While increasing your carb intake can help promote better health, that doesn’t mean the ketogenic diet will never have a place in a wellness regimen. In fact, I still recommend it if you’re just getting your health back on track, as it’s initially useful to help you become more metabolically flexible. But, while short-term keto has several benefits, prolonged ketosis, as discussed throughout this article, can be problematic.
When using keto as a short-term metabolic reset, it’s important to monitor how your body responds. The table below outlines key markers that show whether the diet is supporting recovery or beginning to strain metabolic balance.
Key Markers to Watch on a Ketogenic Diet
When to WorryPractical Levers
| Marker | Typical Keto Effect | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LDL/apoB | May rise sharply in “hyper-responders,” especially lean individuals | A large or sustained increase from baseline, especially with signs of oxidative stress or inflammation | Eliminate seed oils and other LA sources; prioritize stable fats like butter, tallow, and coconut oil; increase antioxidant-rich foods (vitamin E, polyphenols); optimize thyroid and liver function |
| Triglycerides | Commonly decrease during early keto adaptation | A paradoxical rise, often from excess calories, alcohol, or impaired fat oxidation | Avoid alcohol and reduce total fat intake; include more fiber and whole-food carbohydrates to improve fat clearance |
| HDL | Typically increases modestly | Not a concern unless paired with inflammation or high apoB | Maintain balanced nutrition and oxidative stability; HDL rise alone doesn’t offset metabolic stress |
| Arrhythmia symptoms | Palpitations often tied to electrolyte loss or thyroid shifts | Persistent palpitations, irregular ECG, chest tightness, or dizziness | Rehydrate; restore electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, potassium); address thyroid and adrenal balance; seek medical evaluation if symptoms persist |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Ketogenic Diet
Q: Does keto cause fatty liver or help reverse it?
A: The Science Advances study showed that long-term ketosis elevated free fatty acids, hyperlipidemia, and fat accumulation inside liver cells — classic signs of hepatic steatosis. These changes occurred even without weight gain, showing that fat overload, not calories alone, can injure the liver. In essence, keto may appear helpful early on, but extended use risks shifting the liver from fat-burning to fat-burdened.
Q: Can a ketogenic diet raise LDL even if I’m losing weight?
A: Yes. The Mayo Clinic review documented sharp LDL and apoB increases among “hyper-responders,” many of whom were lean and metabolically healthy. Weight loss itself doesn’t prevent this, because the rise in circulating fats reflects how the body processes fat for fuel under severe carb restriction — not just how much fat it stores.
Q: Why are my alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels high after starting keto?
A: ALT is an enzyme found primarily in liver cells, and elevated levels usually signal that the liver is under stress. During the early stages of keto, fat breakdown accelerates, flooding the liver with free fatty acids to convert into ketones. This sudden metabolic load can temporarily raise ALT.
However, if levels stay elevated, it may indicate that excess fat is accumulating in liver cells or that oxidative stress is damaging them. Persistent ALT elevation means the liver is struggling to keep up with fat processing — a sign that the diet may be doing more harm than good.
Q: Are heart palpitations on keto normal?
A: Transient palpitations are common during the first days or weeks of carbohydrate restriction because of fluid and electrolyte losses. When glycogen stores drop, the kidneys excrete sodium, magnesium, and potassium — minerals essential for normal heart rhythm. If palpitations persist after hydration and electrolyte restoration, or are accompanied by dizziness or chest tightness, you should seek medical evaluation.
Q: What do U.S. guidelines say about high-fat patterns and heart risk?
A: For decades, U.S. dietary policy has promoted a low-saturated-fat approach for heart health, encouraging Americans to rely on so-called “heart-healthy” vegetable oils like soybean, corn, canola, and sunflower.
However, while moderating overall fat intake is wise, natural saturated fats from traditional sources like grass fed butter, eggs, and meat are not the problem. The real focus should be on eliminating unstable industrial oils and restoring a balanced, nutrient-dense diet that includes whole-food carbohydrates for sustained metabolic health.
- 1, 2 Sci. Adv. 11, eadx2752(2025)
- 3 Haidut, October 3, 2025
- 4 American Journal of Preventive Cardiology Volume 15, Supplement, September 2023, 100548
- 5 Am J Prev Cardiol. 2023 Apr 6;14:100495
- 6 Ketogenic, November 13, 2023
- 7 AFIP Foundation, “Can the Keto Diet Trigger Atrial Fibrillation? Exploring the Science Behind This Diet-Heart Connection”
- 8 Nutrition & Metabolism volume 17, Article number: 91 (2020)
- 9 StatPearls [Internet], Physiology, Cortisol
- 10 Dictionary, gluco-
- 11 Dictionary, cortico-
- 12 StatPearls [Internet], Physiology, Glucocorticoids, Function
- 13 Cleveland Clinic, Cortisol
- 14 Seven Countries Study, About the study
- 15 BMJ 2016;353:i1246
Your prescription drugs may be contaminated: 580,000 bottles recalled
Reproduced from original article:
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/your-prescription-drugs-may-be-contaminated-580000-bottles-recalled.html
by: November 6, 2025
(NaturalHealth365) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled over 580,000 bottles of prazosin hydrochloride – a widely prescribed blood pressure medication – after testing revealed contamination with N-nitroso Prazosin impurity C, a potentially cancer-causing nitrosamine compound exceeding acceptable safety limits.
New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals and drug distributor Amerisource Health Services initiated voluntary nationwide recalls in October 2025 affecting 1 mg, 2 mg, and 5 mg capsules. The FDA classified this as a Class II recall, meaning the contaminated medication “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” though the probability of serious harm is considered remote.
According to the FDA’s enforcement report (available at FDA.gov), nitrosamines are potentially cancer-causing chemicals that can form during drug manufacturing or storage. Long-term exposure may increase the risk of liver, stomach, and lung cancers.
A pattern of pharmaceutical contamination
This recall follows another high-profile medication safety alert just days earlier, when Ascend Laboratories pulled over 140,000 bottles of atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) due to improper tablet dissolution. These back-to-back incidents expose a troubling pattern: nitrosamine contamination has triggered massive recalls of valsartan, losartan, metformin, ranitidine, and varenicline (Chantix) since 2018.
The timing couldn’t be worse. America is the world’s largest pharmaceutical market, and prescription drug dependence has reached unprecedented levels. According to recent data, 61% of Americans currently take at least one prescription medication, 27% take four or more, and nearly 90% of adults over 65 regularly use prescription drugs. The U.S. consumes 8% of the world’s prescription drugs despite representing just 4% of the global population.
With 6.7 billion total prescriptions dispensed across the U.S. in 2022 and Americans spending more per capita on prescription drugs than any other country, the stakes for pharmaceutical safety have never been higher. When manufacturing quality controls fail, hundreds of millions of people face potential exposure to carcinogenic contaminants.
The hidden nitrosamine threat beyond medications
While pharmaceutical contamination makes headlines, most Americans remain unaware of pervasive nitrosamine exposure from unexpected everyday sources.
Processed and cured meats contain high nitrosamine levels. Bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, and sausages treated with nitrite preservatives form nitrosamines during cooking – especially when fried at high temperatures. The crispy, well-done edges contain the highest concentrations.
Drinking water harbors nitrosamine contamination. When water treatment facilities use chloramine disinfection, nitrosamines form as byproducts when chloramine reacts with organic matter. The predominant compound formed is N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), classified as probably carcinogenic to humans.
Cosmetics and personal care products were major sources. Until recent regulations, over 40% of tested cosmetics, shampoos, and lotions contained N-nitrosodiethanolamine at concentrations up to 260 mg/kg. While banned in the EU, contamination remains a concern in products from unregulated markets.
Tobacco smoke delivers concentrated nitrosamine exposure. Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco contain tobacco-specific nitrosamines classified as carcinogenic to humans. Secondhand and thirdhand smoke (residue on surfaces) also expose non-smokers.
Simple steps to reduce your cancer risk naturally
Eliminate processed meats entirely. No amount is safe. Replace with organic, unprocessed proteins like wild-caught fish, 100% grass-fed beef, and pasture-raised poultry.
Install quality water filtration. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters remove nitrosamines from drinking water. Don’t rely solely on municipal treatment.
Choose clean personal care products. Use EWG’s Skin Deep database to verify products are free from nitrosamine precursors. Avoid products containing DEA, TEA, or other ethanolamines.
Support liver detoxification. Your liver processes nitrosamines through specific pathways. Optimize function with milk thistle, N-acetyl cysteine, glutathione, and organic cruciferous vegetables rich in sulforaphane.
Consume protective compounds. Vitamin C blocks nitrosamine formation in the stomach. Green tea polyphenols, resveratrol, and curcumin provide additional protection against DNA damage from nitrosamine exposure.
Address chronic inflammation. Nitrosamines cause cancer partly through oxidative stress and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory diets emphasizing omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and organic whole foods reduce susceptibility to carcinogenic damage.
The complete cancer defense strategy Western medicine ignores
Nitrosamine exposure from contaminated drugs, processed foods, water, cosmetics, and air represents just one category of cancer-causing threats most people face daily.
Discover how to detect cancer cells before they become life-threatening and which hidden infections dramatically increase cancer risk. Learn which “healthy” foods actually feed cancer growth and access vitamin C therapy protocols with 30+ years of clinical experience. Understand emotional and energetic cancer triggers; the liver-cancer connection; and natural protocols to successfully eliminate cancer cells from your body.
Sources for this article include:
FDA.gov
FDA.gov
6abc.com
FDA.gov
NIH.gov
CDC.gov
Singlecare.com
The Most Dangerous Pain Reliever Is Probably in Your Medicine Cabinet Right Now
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/10/09/acetaminophen-health-risks.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola October 09, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- Acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in developed countries, and even normal doses have been shown to stress the liver in otherwise healthy adults
- Tylenol PM combines acetaminophen with diphenhydramine, creating risks not only for liver damage but also for memory loss and dementia
- Long-term acetaminophen use in older adults is linked to gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease
- The drug harms your body by depleting glutathione, your master antioxidant, and disrupting protective systems that safeguard your stomach, heart, and kidneys
- Safer pain relief strategies include natural options like curcumin, magnesium, and lifestyle practices, along with boosting glutathione levels through foods and, in emergencies, N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used painkillers in the world, found in countless household medicine cabinets and often taken daily for everything from headaches to arthritis. Because it’s sold over the counter, many people assume it’s safe. Yet its widespread use hides a darker truth — this drug is also the leading cause of acute liver failure in developed countries, sending thousands to emergency rooms each year.1
What makes the situation more alarming is how easily the risks are overlooked. Many people are unaware that acetaminophen is not only in Tylenol but also in dozens of cold, flu, and sleep remedies. This makes it easy to exceed the recommended dose without realizing it. For older adults, who often rely on it for chronic pain, the risks grow even higher, adding strain not only to the liver but also to the heart, kidneys, and digestive system.
The real concern is that a product marketed as safe for daily relief carries such wide-reaching harm. From liver stress and memory loss to bleeding ulcers and high blood pressure, the evidence shows that acetaminophen is far from harmless. Understanding these dangers is the first step to protecting yourself and exploring safer alternatives that address pain without putting your long-term health at risk.
Acetaminophen’s Hidden Dangers to Your Liver
LeanMachine note: In Australia, Acetaminophen is known as Panadol, Paracetamol and various other names, but these are identical to Acetaminophen.
A report from the National Library of Medicine’s LiverTox resource explains that this common over-the-counter drug, long marketed as safe when taken properly, is in fact “a well-established cause of liver injury,” with severe cases tied to high or repeated doses.2
• Healthy adults taking 4 grams of acetaminophen daily developed spikes in liver enzymes within just a week — These enzymes are markers of liver stress. Other cases involved individuals who were malnourished, drinking alcohol, or living with chronic liver disease — all conditions that lower your body’s ability to defend against toxins. Children were also affected when caregivers miscalculated dosages or used adult-sized tablets, showing that no group is fully protected from harm.
• Signs of liver harm were seen in more than three-quarters of participants — In a clinical trial cited by LiverTox, 76% of participants taking high therapeutic doses of acetaminophen developed liver enzyme elevations above the normal range.
Within this group, 39% had levels more than triple the normal limit, while 25% showed increases greater than five times the upper limit. These results are striking because the participants were otherwise healthy adults, not people with pre-existing disease. The numbers make it clear: even “safe” doses often overwhelm the liver in a matter of days.
• Acetaminophen toxicity develops in a predictable timeline — Within 24 to 72 hours after overdose, enzyme levels skyrocket — often reaching values over 2,000 units per liter, compared with a normal of less than 40. By 48 to 96 hours, patients present with jaundice, confusion, and even signs of acute liver failure.
This progression is not limited to intentional overdoses; so-called therapeutic misadventures, when people unknowingly take multiple products containing acetaminophen, follow a similar pattern.
• The danger comes from a toxic breakdown product — Normally, your liver quickly detoxifies this by using glutathione, your body’s master antioxidant. But once glutathione stores run low — whether from poor diet, alcohol, illness, or simply too much acetaminophen — the toxic compound builds up.
When that happens, the breakdown product binds to important proteins inside liver cells, triggering cell death through apoptotic pathways. This explains why acetaminophen injury is so sudden and severe.
Why Tylenol PM Raises Serious Health Concerns
A report from the Daily Mail featured insights from Dr. Ethan Melillo, a pharmacist from Rhode Island, who described Tylenol PM as one of the drugs he “hates” because of the long-term risks tied to its ingredients.3
He explained that this over-the-counter nighttime painkiller, which grosses nearly $1 billion annually, is widely misused and poses risks of liver damage, dementia, and other complications. Unlike prescription drugs that are closely monitored, this product is marketed as safe for everyday aches, making it more likely to be taken without caution.
• Misuse occurs because people see Tylenol PM as harmless — However, it combines acetaminophen with diphenhydramine — a double hit for your body. Acetaminophen places stress on your liver, while diphenhydramine, the same ingredient found in Benadryl, blocks acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory. In his words, regular use “could cause memory loss” and contribute to long-term cognitive decline.
• Details on liver risks — If you take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in a day, which equals eight Tylenol PM pills, your liver becomes overwhelmed. When that happens, a toxic byproduct accumulates and binds to proteins in liver cells, causing direct injury and setting the stage for organ failure. Melillo stressed that many people don’t realize how many products also contain acetaminophen, so stacking multiple medications raises the risk without you knowing it.
• Concerns about brain health — Diphenhydramine brings its own set of issues. Because it’s a type of drug that blocks signals in your brain needed for memory, focus, and learning, it interferes with acetylcholine, the chemical your brain uses to carry out those functions.
Blocking this pathway leads to short-term drowsiness, which is why people take it to sleep. But with regular use, the tradeoff is much larger: impaired memory and a higher risk of dementia. A study cited in the report found that taking anticholinergics daily for the equivalent of three years was linked to a 54% increase in dementia risk compared with shorter-term use.4
• Behavioral changes and risk perception — Another surprising finding tied to acetaminophen is its effect on decision-making. In one study, participants who took 1,000 mg rated risky activities like bungee jumping and skydiving as less dangerous compared to those who took a placebo.
Researchers from The Ohio State University concluded that acetaminophen dulls both emotional responses and risk awareness, creating a subtle but important shift in how people judge danger.5 This means your nightly pain pill not only stresses your liver and brain but also changes the way you perceive everyday risks.
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Older Adults Face Widespread Harm from Long-Term Acetaminophen Use
Research published in Arthritis Care & Research examined the long-term health effects of acetaminophen use in older adults.6 The investigators focused on individuals aged 65 and older, analyzing their health outcomes when the drug was used regularly over time. Unlike short-term safety trials, this study looked at chronic use, which reflects how many older adults actually take acetaminophen to manage arthritis, back pain, and other age-related conditions.
• Long-term acetaminophen use was linked to a wide range of serious complications — These included gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers, increased risks of heart failure and high blood pressure, and a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease. For patients, this means that the very drug prescribed as a “safer” alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) brought with it a nearly identical burden of systemic risks.
• The study revealed a sharp increase in gastrointestinal harm — Participants on long-term acetaminophen therapy experienced significantly higher rates of stomach and intestinal bleeding, ulcers, and even perforations, which are tears in your stomach lining. These complications were once thought to be mostly tied to NSAIDs like ibuprofen, but this study revealed that acetaminophen carries similar dangers when used habitually in older adults.
• Serious impact on the heart — Regular users of acetaminophen showed increased risks for both heart failure and high blood pressure. Heart failure means your heart cannot pump blood efficiently, while high blood pressure places constant strain on blood vessels.
• Chronic kidney disease also emerged as a serious risk for long-term users — Kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products from your blood, and the study indicated that sustained acetaminophen intake accelerates their decline. For older adults already dealing with reduced kidney reserve, the drug placed an added burden that increased the likelihood of progressing to advanced kidney disease.
• How acetaminophen harms your organs — The researchers found that acetaminophen disrupts your body’s normal protective systems. It lowers the amount of natural chemicals that keep blood flowing to your kidneys, help control blood pressure, and protect your stomach lining. When prostaglandins drop too low, your stomach, heart, and kidneys lose that protection. Over time, this makes these organs more likely to get damaged, which matches the problems seen in the study.
How to Safely Manage Pain Without Relying on Acetaminophen
I don’t recommend using acetaminophen for minor aches and pains. Instead, try one of the many natural pain relief options available that provide comfort without stressing your liver, heart, kidneys, or brain. The risks tied to this drug are too great to ignore, especially when safer and often more effective solutions are within your reach. Here are five practical steps to protect yourself and explore better alternatives.
1. Avoid acetaminophen whenever possible — Your first line of defense is simply not reaching for acetaminophen unless it is absolutely necessary. If you’re dealing with a mild headache, sore muscles from exercise, or day-to-day joint stiffness, avoid defaulting to Tylenol or Tylenol PM.
The science shows these small, routine doses still place stress on your liver over time. Shifting your mindset to view acetaminophen as a last resort instead of a first choice is one of the most powerful steps you can take.
2. Explore natural pain relief alternatives — Many safe options exist that help with pain and inflammation without damaging your organs. Consider turmeric or curcumin for joint pain, magnesium for muscle relaxation and cramps, or herbal remedies for chronic pain.
If you’re struggling with sleep, calming herbal teas such as chamomile and attention to better sleep hygiene ease you into rest without the brain risks linked to diphenhydramine. These choices don’t just dull symptoms — they support whole-body health.
3. Strengthen your body’s defenses with food — Since acetaminophen damages your liver by depleting glutathione, your best long-term protection is keeping glutathione strong. Eat sulfur-rich foods like garlic, onions, and broccoli, which help your body produce more of this key antioxidant.
If you frequently experience aches, focusing on nutrition gives your liver resilience while also addressing the root causes of pain, such as chronic inflammation or oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) also boosts production of glutathione.
4. Understand the role of NAC in emergencies — NAC is the emergency antidote used in hospitals for acetaminophen overdose because it replenishes glutathione so quickly. If you accidentally take too much acetaminophen, NAC is lifesaving. While you should not rely on NAC as a routine “safety net” for daily use, it’s important to understand how it works. By boosting glutathione, NAC helps neutralize acetaminophen’s toxic byproducts and prevents catastrophic liver failure.
5. Adopt lifestyle strategies that lower your need for painkillers — Daily walks, stretching routines, stress management, and good sleep habits all reduce your reliance on pills. If you’re an older adult dealing with arthritis or chronic pain, gentle movement practices like yoga or tai chi are especially helpful.
These daily steps lower inflammation, support circulation, and help you feel more comfortable without reaching for acetaminophen. By building these habits, you put yourself in control of your pain management instead of depending on a drug that carries hidden risks.
FAQs About Acetaminophen Risks
Q: Why is acetaminophen considered dangerous if it’s sold over the counter?
A: Acetaminophen is widely available, but it’s also the leading cause of acute liver failure in developed countries. Even standard doses raise liver enzymes in healthy adults, a sign of liver stress, and long-term use adds risks for heart, kidney, and digestive problems.
Q: What makes Tylenol PM especially risky?
A: Tylenol PM combines acetaminophen with diphenhydramine, a drug that interferes with brain chemicals needed for memory, focus, and learning. This double hit harms both liver and brain health, and long-term use has been linked to higher dementia risk.
Q: Are older adults at greater risk from acetaminophen?
A: Yes. Research shows older adults who take acetaminophen long term face increased risks of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. For this group, acetaminophen is no safer than NSAIDs.
Q: How does acetaminophen damage my body?
A: The drug creates a toxic byproduct that overwhelms your liver’s defenses when glutathione, your body’s master antioxidant, runs low. It also disrupts protective systems that normally safeguard your stomach, heart, and kidneys, making them more vulnerable to damage over time.
Q: What safer alternatives exist for pain relief?
A: Instead of acetaminophen for minor pain, try natural remedies like curcumin, herbs or magnesium, along with lifestyle practices such as walking, stretching, or yoga. For sleep, use calming teas or good sleep hygiene. Supporting glutathione production through diet — and knowing that NAC is used as an emergency antidote for overdose — offers additional protection.
The Importance of Getting Regular Health Tests
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/08/16/importance-of-getting-regular-health-tests.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola August 16, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- Regular lab testing provides precise, actionable insights that enable early detection of possible diseases to improve long-term health outcomes
- Iron overload testing is crucial since excess iron is more common than deficiency; check serum ferritin levels and GGT enzyme levels for accuracy
- Hormone testing reveals metabolic health by measuring cortisol for stress levels, testosterone for mortality risk, and insulin resistance through HOMA-IR calculations
- Comprehensive biomarker monitoring includes vitamin D levels, complete thyroid panel beyond thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and NAD+ testing for cellular function
- Biannual gut microbiome testing provides insights into bacterial balance, enabling smarter dietary decisions
When was the last time you had a thorough assessment of your health? Guessing about the current state of your health can lead to risky assumptions and dangerous oversights. Without concrete information, symptoms are likely to be misinterpreted or dismissed, allowing underlying issues to progress unnoticed. On the other hand, too much intake of a specific nutrient will also lead to health issues.
Lab testing removes uncertainty by providing precise, actionable insights into your health. By leveraging data-driven results, you gain clarity about your body’s true state, enabling you to select the optimal strategy to boost your health and proactively address concerns. The following are the tests I recommend that you take to keep you updated on what’s happening inside your body.
How to Test for Iron
One good reason why I recommend taking regular tests is to catch an unsuspecting health problem affecting many people — iron overload. In fact, it’s more widespread than iron deficiency. In addition, I’ve also written a paper about the duality of iron as a toxin and a nutrient, which will be published in the future. The recommendations I mention below stem from the findings of that specific research.
• How iron is normally tested — Checking for excess iron is straightforward and starts with a basic serum ferritin test, which shows how much iron your body has stored. This test reveals if your iron storage has reached higher-than-normal levels.
For context, transferrin refers to a protein produced in your liver that transports (hence the “transfer” in the name) iron molecules it binds to, transporting it to tissues. One example is your bone marrow, which requires iron to create new blood cells.1
• Transferrin saturation (TSAT) — While a serum ferritin test is a cornerstone test, it shows an incomplete picture. It works best alongside a TSAT test.
TSAT levels — calculated as serum iron divided by total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) then multiplied by 100 — shows the current amount of transferrin protein that’s bound to iron. Thus, it shows you the current iron levels you have available for erythropoiesis, commonly known as red blood cell production.
• Results to watch out for — When it comes to serum ferritin levels, I believe that the ideal range is between 30 and 100 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter). This is sufficient for hemoglobin synthesis and avoids iron accumulation that can lead to oxidative stress in your body.
As for TSAT, my research indicates that the ideal range is between 25% and 35%. If regular tests show a range above 35%, you likely have iron overload. At 35% to 40%, iron that isn’t bound by transferrin protein — also known as toxic non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) — will damage your vital organs.2 In fact, TSAT ranges between 45% and 55% are linked to a 60% to 67% increase in all-cause mortality.
•Ideal ranges — To summarize, healthy results should show TSAT levels between 25% and 35%, alongside serum ferritin levels between 30 and 100 ng/mL.
Now, if your combined results show TSAT levels below 20% and serum ferritin levels below 15 micrograms per liter (µg/L), you likely have depleted iron reserves. Conversely, TSAT levels above 45% and ferritin levels above 100 ng/mL indicate excess iron. Taken altogether, serum ferritin not only serve as diagnostic markers — they also function as risk predictors.
• Other tests that detect iron — A comprehensive assessment usually includes an iron panel, complete blood count (CBC), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and a metabolic panel to fully understand your body’s iron status and overall health.
A healthy ferritin level is between 20 and 40 ng/mL. If results show that you’re below 20 ng/mL, you’re deficient in iron, which isn’t what you also want to happen. Conversely, you want your ferritin below 100 ng/mL, which is the maximum cut off.
• GGT test — This refers to the enzyme mainly produced by the liver, and is responsible for breaking down medications and toxins. When too much iron builds up in your body, it can harm your liver cells, causing GGT levels to rise significantly in your bloodstream.
What’s great about this test is that it also gives you insights on your excess free iron, as well as your risk for sudden death, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic disease. Once you have your results, refer to the table below to know where you stand:
| Ideal GGT Level, units per liter (U/L) | Average level, above which your risk for chronic disease increases significantly | “Normal” GGT Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Less than 16 U/L | 25 U/L | Up to 70 U/L |
| Women | Less than 9 U/L | 18 U/L | Up to 45 U/L |
Fine-Tuning Your Lifestyle for Longevity
Testing for possible nutrient deficiencies (or overload) is just one aspect of the big picture. You also need to test for other biomarkers, such as your hormones (testosterone, cortisol, and insulin) to detect your current stress levels. Doing so will lead to better metabolic health management.
• How cortisol is measured — Cortisol is produced by your adrenal glands, and it can be detected via your blood, urine, or saliva. Once samples are provided, be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to generate the most accurate results possible.3
According to the Cleveland Clinic, cortisol in the blood, urine, or saliva are at their highest during the early morning and then decline afterward — midnight is the lowest point.4
• What your cortisol levels tell you about your health — In addition to measuring your stress levels, cortisol tests help rule out other conditions. For example, Addison’s disease occurs when your body isn’t producing enough cortisol. Conversely, Cushing’s syndrome is marked by high cortisol levels. Tumors are also marked by elevated cortisol.5
Finding out your current cortisol levels is important for overall health. It drastically accelerates aging and even contributes to muscle degradation over time. Lastly, it contributes to inflammation and a weakened immune system.
• The importance of testosterone — In a previous article, I cited research showing the link between sex hormones and mortality risk in men. Basically, if your testosterone levels drop by 213 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter), you have a higher risk of all-cause mortality. In addition, testosterone levels below 153 ng/dL were associated with increased cardiovascular mortality risk.
• Ideal testosterone range — To find out your current levels, you’ll need to have your blood tested. That said, what’s a healthy range? In this article, I mentioned 300 to 1,000 ng/dL as a baseline.
• Testing for insulin resistance — In addition to cortisol, another crucial test that I recommend you take is measuring your insulin resistance. This is essential because results will serve as warning signs for your metabolic health. That said, insulin resistance is measured via the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) test. It calculates how your fasting glucose and insulin levels interact, and finds out how your body uses insulin.
• Interpreting HOMA-IR results — Below is a breakdown on how the HOMA-IR test is calculated. A score below 1 means you are currently insulin-sensitive and functioning well. Anything above that means that you currently have insulin resistance.
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose x Fasting Insulin) / 405, where
◦ Fasting glucose is measured in mg/dL
◦ Fasting insulin is measured in μIU/mL (microinternational units per milliliter)
◦ 405 is a constant that normalizes the values
If you’re using mmol/L for glucose instead of mg/dL, the formula changes slightly:
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose x Fasting Insulin) / 22.5, where
◦ Fasting glucose is measured in mmol/L (millimoles per liter)
◦ Fasting insulin is measured in μIU/mL, and
◦ 22.5 is the normalizing factor for this unit of measurement
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Testing for Other Important Biomarkers
So far, I’ve covered the importance of having your iron, cortisol, insulin resistance, and testosterone levels tested. While they may seem like a lot, there’s still a few more tests that need to be done.
• Monitor your vitamin D — This nutrient is a crucial contributor to optimal health, and I’ve espoused its importance for many years now. Considering this, a simple blood test is all you need to know your current levels.
My recommended range is between 60 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL, and the cutoff for sufficiency is around 40 ng/mL. Once you’ve confirmed your level, you’ll know how much sun exposure or supplementation (if needed) is necessary for you to reach the ideal range. Then, retest in the next three to four months to make sure you’ve hit your goals.
• Don’t forget your thyroid hormones — Your endocrine system is a complex network of glands and organs that regulate hormone production. Among the many hormones produced in your body, the ones produced in the thyroid are perhaps the most important because they help regulate metabolism and are found in nearly every physiological process within you.
• Understanding thyroid antibodies — Examples include thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb). Results will give you deeper insight into whether autoimmune processes are attacking your thyroid gland. Pairing these antibody results with symptoms helps you make meaningful connections and clarifies what’s really going on with your body, particularly if you’re dealing with an autoimmune condition.
• Traditional thyroid assessments aren’t effective anymore — Testing for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) alone often misses underlying issues. That’s because TSH levels fluctuate significantly and you’ll even appear relatively normal even when you’re actually experiencing severe symptoms.
For instance, individuals with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis might have completely normal hormone levels yet feel persistently unwell. Similarly, basal body temperature is also an unreliable indicator of thyroid health, as it can be influenced by multiple factors unrelated to thyroid function.
• How to test thyroid function — A full thyroid assessment should show the following results:
◦Low TSH
◦T3 levels in the upper range
◦rT3 levels in the lower range
◦Moderate T4 levels
However, note that even “normal” results will not guarantee that your thyroid is functioning properly. For deeper insight, test for rT3 and cholesterol. Small amounts of rT3 are normal and act as a buffer against thyroid overactivity. On the other end, elevated rT3 is problematic because it competes with T3, reducing your metabolic rate. Elevated cholesterol levels also usually signal suboptimal thyroid function.
Importance of NAD+ Testing
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an important molecule in your body. It plays a role in converting food to energy, as well as maintaining DNA integrity and proper cell function.
• A new test will come out soon — I’m excited to announce the upcoming Mitochondrial Wellness Test Kit, which will provide a snapshot of your latest mitochondrial function. While helpful, certain specialized tests will be needed to understand the nuances of your health.
• Current NAD+ testing is unsatisfactory — NAD+ rapidly deteriorates once it’s outside your cells, making accurate measurement tricky. Because of this fragility, samples require immediate handling and specialized techniques to avoid losing accuracy.
Typically, precise NAD+ measurement demands blood samples to be drawn and analyzed swiftly within the same specialized research facility — something not possible at most regular clinics. Transporting samples between labs also compromises results significantly due to degradation. However, these challenges haven’t stopped our mission to deliver valuable health insights.
• NAD+ testing standards will rise — My team and I have developed an innovative approach that bypasses the complexity of direct NAD+ measurement. Instead, our method evaluates your NAD+ status indirectly by examining the redox balance among these essential markers — acetoacetate and betahydroxybutyrate, lactate and pyruvate, and the oxidized and reduced forms of glutathione.
• The test will be affordable — I’m proud to share that this cutting-edge NAD+ test is inexpensive, giving more people access to their current cellular health. More announcements will be made once this product is available.
Assessing Your Gut Health
Another crucial aspect of your health that needs to be tested regularly is your gut function. As you know, certain gut strains are beneficial, while others aren’t. Thus, figuring out which bacteria are dominating your gut will give you an insight to what’s happening.
• Gut Microbiome Wellness Test Kit — Just like the Mitochondrial Wellness Test Kit, my team and I will be releasing the Gut Microbiome Wellness Test Kit. It’s uniquely crafted to help you gain insights into your gut bacteria’s profile. It will seamlessly pair with the upcoming Mercola Health Coach app, providing you with a seamless end-to-end journey — from collecting your sample to interpreting your results.
To paint a picture of this process, you’ll need to send over a fecal sample. Afterward, you’ll be provided with a detailed breakdown of key bacterial species, allowing you to make smarter dietary and lifestyle decisions. To encourage broad access among the public, we’re also giving it an affordable price tag.
• Frequency of gut microbiome testing — One major reason why we’ve made this test affordable is to encourage repeat testing, ideally twice a year. This is needed to see whether your situation has improved or worsened, and you cannot know what your status is if a single test already requires a significant amount of cash.
Tips on Addressing Nutritional and Hormonal Deficiencies
The reason why I recommend you get yourself screened is to help save you time and money. For example, if one vitamin is already at an optimal range, you can focus your effort on others that need more attention. That said, I recommend going through the following articles. They contain helpful strategies to help you maintain optimal health after you’ve completed your tests:
- Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin D for Your Health
- High Iron Levels Threaten Bone Health and Increase Fracture Risk
- How Low Testosterone Affects Men’s Health
- Blocking Cortisol Extends Lifespan by Improving Mitochondrial Function
- Key Nutrients to Support Optimal Thyroid Health
- The Crucial Role of NAD+ in Optimal Health
- Unlocking the Secrets of Gut Health
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Regular Health Screenings
Q: Why is guessing about your health risky?
A: Guessing or relying on symptoms alone can result in serious health issues going undetected, delaying necessary treatments and reducing your chances of successful recovery. Accurate lab testing removes uncertainty, providing clear insights into your health status.
Q: What tests are essential for assessing iron overload?
A: Begin with a serum ferritin test, which reveals how much iron your body stores. For a comprehensive view, consider an iron panel, Complete Blood Count (CBC), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and a metabolic panel to fully evaluate your iron levels and overall health risks.
Q: Why is it important to monitor cortisol and testosterone levels?
A: Cortisol levels reflect stress and inflammation, significantly influencing aging, muscle health, and immune function. Testosterone is linked directly to mortality risk, cardiovascular health, and overall vitality. Regularly testing these hormones helps detect and manage imbalances early, protecting your long-term health.
Q: How can you accurately assess your thyroid health?
A: Traditional testing methods, like TSH levels or basal body temperature alone, often fail to identify underlying thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Testing thyroid antibodies (TgAb and TPOAb), along with a comprehensive panel (TSH, T3, T4, reverse T3, cholesterol), provides a clearer picture and helps target autoimmune-related thyroid issues.
Q: How do NAD+ and gut microbiome tests contribute to overall wellness?
A: Measuring NAD+ indirectly through redox balance markers provides critical insights into mitochondrial and cellular health, influencing energy and metabolic functions. Gut microbiome testing identifies beneficial and harmful bacterial strains, guiding informed dietary and lifestyle adjustments. Both tests are designed to be affordable, accessible, and offer actionable results for improving overall wellness.
PFAS ‘Universe’ Mapped — Nearly 15,000 Chemicals, Scant Human Data
Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/08/10/pfas-forever-chemicals-exposure.aspx
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola August 10, 2025
Story at-a-glance
- Nearly 15,000 PFAS chemicals have been identified, but less than 2% have any safety data, leaving you exposed daily to toxins that haven’t been tested or regulated
- DuPont’s use of PFOA, also known as C8, in Teflon production led to widespread water and air contamination, with blood levels in workers and residents reaching hundreds of times above safe limits
- PFAS chemicals don’t break down and stay in your body for years, binding to proteins and accumulating in organs like your liver and brain, which increases your long-term health risks
- Major sources of exposure include contaminated drinking water, food packaging, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and stain-resistant furniture, making daily contact nearly unavoidable without intervention
- You can lower your toxic burden by filtering your water, avoiding PFAS-treated products, donating blood or plasma, supporting liver detox with sulfur-rich foods, improving mitochondrial health, and pushing for regulatory change
You’ve been exposed to toxic chemicals that your doctor hasn’t ever mentioned, and they’re likely in your blood right now. You didn’t choose this, but industry did. Over the last century, companies have quietly released thousands of synthetic compounds into the environment, embedding them in everyday items like packaging, cookware, and clothing. These substances were designed to last forever — and that’s exactly what they’re doing inside your body.
Even low levels of these chemicals are now being linked to serious health problems, including hormone disruption, immune suppression, and cancer. Yet almost none of them have ever been tested for safety in humans.
And while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun regulating a few of the oldest and most well-known types, the vast majority remain completely unmonitored, with no warnings, no restrictions, and no accountability. This article traces how one chemical invention spiraled into a global contamination crisis — and what you can do to protect yourself.
A Kitchen Coating Triggered One of the Worst Toxic Disasters in US History
The documentary How One Company Secretly Poisoned the Planet traces the shocking history of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) back to a single lab accident.1 In 1938, a chemist at DuPont named Roy Plunkett accidentally created a slippery white powder — polytetrafluoroethylene — later branded as Teflon.
It seemed miraculous: it resisted heat, water, acid, and almost every chemical. That same indestructibility made it valuable to the military and industry. But manufacturing it required a separate chemical called PFOA (also known as C8), which would later be linked to widespread human health harm.
• Factory workers and residents living near DuPont’s plant were exposed to extremely toxic water and air — DuPont began producing Teflon at its Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia, using C8 to polymerize the material. Instead of safely disposing of the waste, the company dumped thousands of pounds of C8 into the Ohio River, local landfills, and the air. The company’s own internal records from the 1960s showed that C8 caused organ damage and cancer in lab animals.
Still, they kept quiet and continued production. One local farmer, Earl Tennant, lost dozens of cattle that developed tumors, blackened teeth, and skin lesions. His creek had white foam pouring out from a DuPont discharge pipe. When Tennant sued, DuPont settled privately and did not admit fault.
• DuPont workers had blood levels of C8 more than 1,000 times higher than the U.S. average — According to the film, when 3M — the original supplier of C8 — found PFOA in the blood of the general U.S. population in the 1970s, they approached DuPont. DuPont tested its workers and discovered astronomically high levels.
Some employees already showed signs of liver dysfunction, and pregnant employees had birth defects in their children. Despite the alarming data, DuPont calculated its own “safe” limit for PFOA in water: one part per billion (ppb).
• Exposure spread far beyond the plant, with drinking water contamination reaching tens of thousands of residents — DuPont’s internal tests found 1,600 ppb of C8 in landfill water near Tennant’s farm — 1,600 times higher than their own safety threshold.
Yet they told no one. In a later class-action lawsuit covering 70,000 residents, an independent scientific panel found a “probable link” between C8 and six human diseases, including thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, and both testicular and kidney cancers. These health problems were observed at average blood concentrations of just 28 parts per billion.
• PFAS is extremely difficult to remove from your body once it builds up — C8 mimics fatty acids in the body, which means it binds to proteins in your blood and travels to organs like your liver, kidneys, and even your brain. Because your body doesn’t have a natural way to break carbon-fluorine bonds, these chemicals take years to leave your system.
That long retention time increases the chance of cumulative harm, even from small exposures. Researchers found that firefighters who donated blood regularly reduced their PFAS levels by up to 30% within a year. But the documentary stressed that placing the burden on individuals to filter or detox is backward. The real solution is stopping production and holding manufacturers accountable.
• The biggest risks were from packaging, food, and local water — Most people assume they’re exposed through nonstick cookware. While this is one route of exposure, another major risk is environmental — through contaminated water, processed food packaging, stain-resistant furniture, and firefighting foams.
Microwave popcorn bags, in particular, leach PFAS directly into the food during heating. Even small concentrations in water — just a few parts per trillion — build up in your bloodstream over time and push your levels into the danger zone.
Thousands of Toxic Chemicals, but Almost No Safety Data
A systematic evidence map published in Environmental Health Perspectives noted that about 14,735 individual PFAS substances are currently known to exist.2 Despite their widespread use, only 214 of those compounds have any published toxicology data. This means over 98% of PFAS have never been assessed for their health risks. For the average person, that translates into daily exposure to chemicals that regulatory agencies haven’t even begun to study or monitor.
• Toxicology studies focused heavily on just a few legacy chemicals, leaving major gaps — Of all the PFAS with published data, nearly every study focused on a handful of well-known substances like PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA.
These four chemicals dominate the scientific literature because they’ve been in use longest and were involved in lawsuits. But that leaves newer, so-called “replacement” PFAS like GenX and ADONA largely unstudied, even though early evidence suggests they’re just as harmful, or worse.
• The study authors warned that these gaps are regulatory blind spots — Just six PFAS are currently regulated under the EPA’s 2024 national drinking water standard. That leaves nearly 15,000 chemicals essentially unregulated in food, water, air, and consumer products. This patchwork regulation is fundamentally inadequate. Without broad-spectrum testing and proactive bans, industries simply substitute one PFAS for another without ever proving that the replacement is safe.
• PFAS manufacturers are exploiting the lack of data to delay regulations — Because most PFAS don’t have safety profiles, manufacturers claim there’s “no evidence of harm” — even though there’s also no evidence of safety.
This tactic, sometimes called the “regulatory data gap,” allows companies to shift public pressure off themselves and onto regulators who are already overwhelmed. For consumers, this means you’re likely using products daily that contain untested PFAS, and there’s no law requiring disclosure or warning.
• Scientists called for urgent reform to close the data gap and protect public health — The paper recommended expanding the use of high-throughput toxicity screening, which uses automated tools to test large numbers of chemicals quickly. It also called for predictive modeling to estimate toxicity based on chemical structure and prioritized testing based on likelihood of human exposure.
Without these tools, regulatory agencies are left playing catch-up with industries that are constantly developing new PFAS faster than they’re assessed. In the meantime, the public continues to be exposed, unknowingly and without protection.
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How to Protect Yourself and Reduce Your Body Burden
You’re not helpless in this. While the contamination began with industry, there are still smart steps you can take right now to reduce your exposure, support your body’s detox systems, and push for real change. You’ll need to take action on two fronts: what comes into your body and how well your body handles it once it’s there.
If you’ve already been exposed, and nearly everyone has, your focus should be on stopping the source and helping your system eliminate what’s already built up. These five steps are a powerful place to start.
1. Filter your drinking water with a system that removes PFAS — If you’re not sure whether your area has contaminated water, check your local water utility’s report or test your water with a PFAS-specific kit. If PFAS is detected, choose a high-quality water filtration system designed to remove it. This is an effective step to help limit daily exposure.
2. Stop bringing new PFAS into your home — That means cutting out nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and furniture, waterproofed clothing (like Gore-Tex), and fast food packaging. Look for PFAS-free or fluorine-free labels. If you’re a parent, especially watch out for school uniforms and outdoor gear treated with water- and stain-proof chemicals. These are common sources of childhood exposure.
3. Donate blood or plasma to lower your PFAS levels — If you meet donation criteria, this is one of the most effective ways to remove PFAS from your body. Several studies have shown that regular blood or plasma donations help clear compounds like PFOS and PFHxS, which otherwise take years to leave your system. This isn’t just a nice thing to do — it’s an active form of self-defense.
4. Support your liver and kidneys — your body’s natural detox system — You don’t need a trendy cleanse or expensive detox powder. What you need is consistent support for your detoxification organs. Eat sulfur-rich foods like garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables to fuel glutathione production, your body’s master detox compound.
Hydrate with filtered water, avoid alcohol, and remove vegetable oils from your diet — they’re high in linoleic acid (LA) that impairs mitochondrial function and slows down toxin elimination.
5. Push back, because voluntary industry change won’t protect you — The reason you’ve been exposed isn’t personal. It’s policy. Industry exploited a regulatory gap, and now the burden falls on you. So, don’t stop at protecting your own home. Support state-level bans on PFAS in consumer products, demand full ingredient disclosure on packaging, and advocate for expanded testing and cleanup in contaminated communities.
Your voice matters more than you think. Each layer of exposure you remove lowers your lifetime toxic burden and gives your body a better shot at recovery. This isn’t just about avoiding illness. It’s about reclaiming control over what gets into your body — and what doesn’t.
FAQs About PFAS
Q: What are PFAS and why should I be concerned?
A: PFAS are manmade chemicals used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, waterproof clothing, and industrial processes. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or your body. Even low levels of PFAS are linked to serious health problems, including cancer, liver damage, thyroid dysfunction, and immune suppression.
Q: How widespread is PFAS contamination?
A: It’s virtually everywhere. According to current estimates, more than 98% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. These chemicals contaminate water, air, soil, and food products. A single PFAS, PFOA, was found in water supplies near military bases, airports, and manufacturing plants at levels far exceeding safety guidelines.
Q: Why haven’t more of these chemicals been regulated or tested?
A: Nearly 15,000 PFAS compounds are known to exist, but only about 200 have been studied for toxicity. Just six are currently regulated in U.S. drinking water. Industry often replaces banned PFAS with new versions that haven’t been tested, creating a cycle of ongoing exposure with little accountability.
Q: How do I reduce my PFAS exposure at home?
A: Start by filtering your drinking water with a system designed to remove PFAS. Avoid products labeled stain-resistant or waterproof, skip fast food packaging and microwave popcorn bags, and switch to stainless steel cookware. These steps cut off major exposure sources.
Q: Can I remove PFAS from my body once I’ve been exposed?
A: PFAS are slow to leave your body, but you can accelerate the process by donating blood or plasma, which helps remove these compounds from your system. You should also support your detox pathways by eating sulfur-rich foods, staying hydrated with clean water, and eliminating vegetable oils that impair mitochondrial health.