Supplement May Help Halt Liver Damage

The supplement S-methylmethionine (SMM) may help defend against a common cause of liver damage, according to a recent study. SMM is a molecule found at high levels in a number of plants, including cabbage and wheat.

In tests on mice, researchers discovered that SMM protected against liver toxicity induced by intake of acetaminophen, a pain reliever found in Tylenol and other over-the-counter medicines used to treat conditions like headache, muscle aches, arthritis, back pain, toothaches, colds, and fevers. While acetaminophen isn’t considered harmful when consumed at normal levels, excessive intake may lead to the buildup of byproducts known to cause severe liver damage. In fact, acetaminophen overdose is the most common cause of liver failure and liver transplantation in the U.S., according to the study’s authors.

If you’re looking to reduce your use of acetaminophen, consider trying an herbal remedy that may help ease pain-triggering inflammation. A number of anti-inflammatory herbs (including white willow bark and devil’s claw) have proven useful in managing pain-causing conditions in previously published studies.

Supplement May Help Halt Liver Damage originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 06:00:08.

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Submited at Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 7:00 am on Alternative Medicine by robert
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