Vitamins And Liver Disease and Hepatitis
Vitamins are organic substances that come from animals and plants. They are essential to human development, growth, and functioning. Vitamins are known as micronutrients because they are required by the body only in small amounts (compared with protein or water for example) to maintain health. Normally, the required amount is supplied by eating a well-rounded diet.
Just like foods and medications, vitamins must pass through the liver to be metabolized. If taken to excess, any vitamin has the potential to cause serious health problems. This is true even for people with normally functioning livers. However, for people with liver disease, the potential for damage is much greater. Depending upon the severity of liver damage, certain people may even need to eliminate from their diets foods that have been fortified with certain vitamins. These may include commonly consumed foods, such as some breakfast cereals.
On the other hand, some people with liver disease are prone to vitamin deficiencies and must take vitamin supplements. If your doctor has recommended a specific vitamin supplement, make sure that it is taken with meals in order to be absorbed into the body properly. Furthermore, vitamin supplements should be kept in a cool, dry place, as its potency may be diminished by sunlight and dampness.
Vitamins can be categorized based on their solubility characteristics—fat soluble and water soluble. This difference has important implications for people with liver disease, and will be covered in detail in my book.
All contents of this article are Copyright © Melissa Palmer, MD
Melissa Palmer, MD is the author of " Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide of Hepatitis and Liver Disease". (Published 2004. Penguin Putnam).
The offices of Melissa Palmer, M.D. are located at:
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