Doctor reviews: Liv Pure

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Liv Pure is a supplement whose style of marketing looks awfully familiar. Why, you ask? Well, because it seems to be following a similar path to other marketing campaigns in the past that have promoted false medical claims to peddle useless supplements. I’m talking about Alpilean and Exipure.

Now, Liv Pure claims to have unlocked the secret behind that pesky belly fat that many people struggle with. According to them, the root cause lies in “compromised liver function”.

They argue that in order to shed that unwanted fat, you must optimize your liver function. And to support this interesting claim, they reference three articles.

But what do these articles actually say, and do they really back their claim?

False medical claims

Let’s begin with the first article. The article is about metabolic flexibility, which essentially refers to our body’s ability to adapt and respond to our body’s energy needs.

Whenever we use energy, our body has to decide where it gets that energy from, whether it be from the foods we eat, or our own fat stores. The more efficiently we can do this, the more metabolically flexible we are.

So what does this have to do with compromised liver function causing belly fat? Nothing. Literally nothing.

This article explores how poor metabolic flexibility, particularly in the context of reduced insulin production or insulin resistance, can increase the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes or obesity. It has nothing to do with poor liver function and how it can affect belly fat at all.

Moving on to the second article. Again, the topic revolves around metabolic flexibility and its potential role in managing nutrient sensing: how it’s absorbed, transported, stored as fat, and used as energy.

It highlights the importance of maintaining optimal metabolic flexibility to ward off various diseases, and like the first article, it says that poor metabolic flexibility can result in diabetes or other metabolic disease. It doesn’t say anything about compromised liver function as the cause of belly fat.

Lastly, we arrive at the third article. It, too, is centered on the concept of metabolic flexibility. This term essentially encompasses the changes and responses our bodies undergo in response to things like exercise or fasting.

While disturbances in metabolic flexibility can indeed increase the risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity, it has more to do with the response to hormones like insulin and the ability of our body to use our fat stores, rather than issues with the liver. It certainly doesn’t support the idea that compromised liver function can cause belly fat.

Does the liver affect fat?

Now, let’s address the burning question that’s probably on your mind: Does compromised liver function really lead to increased belly fat? The short answer is no, not quite like that.

When the liver has problems and its function becomes compromised, it’s more likely to result in the accumulation of fat within the liver itself rather than around the belly. This condition is known as fatty liver disease, and it comes with its own set of problems and health implications.

Liv Pure seems to be capitalizing on the popular detoxification myth, which suggests that “detoxing” your liver can miraculously improve your overall health. In this case, they’re falsely claiming that it is the root cause of belly fat.

While the liver plays a vital role in detoxifying our bodies, the idea of specifically detoxing the liver as a standalone health practice lacks scientific evidence, and is a concept that sounds interesting but is full of misunderstandings.

Ingredients of Liv Pure

Now let’s talk about the Liv Pure supplement itself. Here are the doses per capsule. The recommended dosing is 2 per day.

There are apparently a lot of copycat Liv Pure products, all of which have different ingredients, so I’m just talking about the original version of Liv Pure. Most of the ingredients are hidden behind a proprietary blend so we don’t have exact doses.

We’re going to analyze each ingredient to see whether they contain a sufficient dose, whether it contains the active compounds to work, and how effective they might be for weight loss. Then at the very end, I’ll look into cheaper alternatives and give the supplement an overall rating.

Silymarin

Silymarin is derived from the dried seeds and fruits of the milk thistle plant. When Liv Pure lists silymarin as an ingredient in their supplement, it is actually a bit misleading.

You see, pure silymarin supplements don’t actually exist. What you’ll find instead is a milk thistle extract, which may contain some silymarin, albeit not in its pure form.

Milk thistle and the many compounds that it contains, including silymarin, do have some evidence suggesting potential benefits for liver function. They may even aid in blood sugar control for individuals with diabetes.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that milk thistle or silymarin can assist with weight loss.

Nevertheless, it’s worth mentioning that some individuals have turned to milk thistle supplements to help manage liver issues.

But here’s the thing: when it comes to Liv Pure, we can’t say for certain whether they are using a standardized extract of milk thistle and if the amount of silymarin in their product is even sufficient to provide any meaningful benefits.

Betaine

Next is betaine, which can refer to two different supplements: betaine hydrochloride and betaine anhydrous. Here’s where things get a bit murky.

Due to Liv Pure’s use of a proprietary blend, we’re left in the dark about which specific form of betaine they are using. When it comes to betaine anhydrous, there is some very weak evidence suggesting potential benefits for fatty liver disease.

However, here’s the catch: the doses required to see any potential benefit are around 10 grams per day. There’s no way Liv Pure contains anywhere near that amount of betaine anhydrous to have any meaningful impact on liver function.

Regardless of the type of betaine, neither of these forms has been shown to be effective for weight loss.

Berberine

I’ve talked about berberine in another article before. But there is some weak evidence it can help diabetics with a small amount of weight loss.

There is also a small amount of evidence it can help with hepatitis or other liver issues, however again the doses required is 1-3 grams per day. Liv Pure doesn’t contain nearly enough to help with those conditions.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum is a mineral that our liver uses in its metabolic processes. It falls into the category of essential trace minerals, meaning our bodies require only minuscule amounts to function properly.

So theoretically speaking, deficiencies in this mineral could potentially hamper liver function. However, molybdenum deficiencies are exceedingly rare, and the likelihood of someone actually needing supplementation is highly unlikely.

While it does play a role in our metabolic processes, there is no evidence to suggest that supplementing it will enhance liver function or aid in weight loss.

In fact, studies have shown that individuals with liver diseases like hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, and liver cancer tend to have higher levels of molybdenum in their bloodstream.

So if you’re dealing with liver issues, supplementing with more molybdenum would likely be the last thing you’d want to consider.

Glutathione

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant, and our liver produces it as the primary compound to assist in the removal of waste products from our bodies. It’s essentially what the liver uses to detox our body.

Many sources out there suggest that taking glutathione can be beneficial for our health. However, when it comes to oral supplementation, the evidence suggests that it doesn’t seem to have much effect on the human body. Why is that?

The problem lies in the fact that glutathione taken orally is mostly inactivated in our digestive system and fails to reach our bloodstream.

Numerous studies have supported this finding, indicating that oral glutathione supplementation is unlikely to have any significant antioxidant effects or provide much benefits to the body.

It turns out that glutathione needs to be administered directly into the bloodstream through injection or IV therapy for it to have any chance of appearing in the blood at all.

So while glutathione has theoretical benefits and plays a vital role in our body’s detoxification process, relying on a glutathione supplement is highly unlikely to provide those desired benefits.

Camellia Sinensis and Chlorogenic Acid

Camellia Sinensis is the general name for basic tea. Liv Pure fails to specify the specific type of tea it contains. Is it green tea? Black tea? We’re not sure.

There are many potentially beneficial compounds found in tea. Some studies suggest that certain ones like caffeine or chlorogenic acid may have modest effects on weight loss.

However, the doses required to see these effects typically range from 250 to 1000 mg, specifically from standardized green tea or green coffee extracts.

Considering Liv Pure’s lack of specificity regarding the type of tea used, it leads me to believe that it’s merely ground-up regular tea leaves added into the mix.

So, while drinking tea has been linked to various health benefits, it’s highly unlikely that the minuscule amount of ground-up tea leaves, along with the tiny amounts of chlorogenic acid, found in this supplement will have any substantial impact, let alone burn fat.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a compound found in red wine and grapes. It is best known for its antioxidant properties, which can be beneficial for our health.

There is some weak evidence suggesting that resveratrol may have a modest effect on weight loss for certain individuals. It may help control blood sugar levels and slightly reduce appetite, leading to a few pounds of weight loss over the course of a few months.

However, resveratrol doesn’t seem to have any significant impact on fat mass reduction like Liv Pure claims. So, while it may help with some aspects of weight management, it’s not going to reduce excess belly fat.

Unfortunately, the useful doses typically range around 250 to 500 mg per day. It’s highly unlikely Liv Pure is providing enough standardized resveratrol to come close to that.

Genistein

Genistein is one of the isoflavones found in soy and soy products. It belongs to a group of compounds known as phytoestrogens, which essentially means that it acts as a weak version of estrogen in the body.

This can be potentially beneficial for women who experience hormone-related issues, such as those going through menopause.

However, listing genistein as an isolated ingredient, much like silymarin, can be somewhat misleading. You see, genistein is rarely found in isolation in a supplement.

Supplements that contain genistein are usually derived from soy extracts, which may or may not be standardized to contain certain amounts of genistein.

However, Liv Pure claims to be soy-free. If that’s the case, the most likely alternative source for genistein in their product would be red clover. Therefore, at most, Liv Pure might contain a small amount of red clover extract, which could potentially contain a tiny amount of genistein.

Phytoestrogens like genistein have shown some moderate benefits for menopause-related weight issues like water retention.

However, when it comes to regular weight loss, the reality is that they’re not likely to be of much help. I’ve gone into more depth about menopause and phytoestrogens in another product called Estroven.

Choline

Choline is an essential nutrient that is found in meats, eggs and dairy products. It’s used as a building block for our nervous system, much like protein is a building block for muscle.

Now, here’s the thing about choline: it’s a nutrient that, much like protein, needs to be consumed in sufficient amounts for our body to effectively utilize it. If you’re already including meats, eggs, or dairy products in your diet, chances are you’re already getting a good amount of choline.

The question then arises: does taking minuscule amounts of choline in supplement form provide any additional benefits?

The answer is likely no. When we’re already meeting our body’s choline needs through our diet, supplementing with tiny amounts of choline is unlikely to provide any extra benefits.

Liv Pure Side effects and warnings

Some of the ingredients in Liv Pure have the potential to cause side effects or interact with certain medications. However, the exact doses of each ingredient are not disclosed, making it difficult to determine how likely these effects may occur.

Take berberine, for example—it can lower blood sugar, which may pose a risk for individuals already taking blood sugar medication. Berberine can also interfere with the liver metabolism of certain drugs like cyclosporin.

However I seriously doubt there is even enough berberine in Liv Pure to cause these problems. So I’m really not sure how safe it is to take, although if I had to guess, the doses of each of these are probably too low to cause many issues for most people.

Is Liv Pure effective?

Overall, Liv Pure is not going to be useful for weight loss at all, and especially not with fat burning. They lack the ingredients and doses that may be beneficial for weight loss, and their claims of “liver purification” are questionable at best.

Consequently, I wouldn’t expect Liv Pure to be particularly helpful for individuals hoping to improve their liver function either.

Overall review: Liv Pure

Reviewing Liv Pure by effectiveness for weight loss, I’m giving it an F. It makes a false claim about compromised liver function being the main contributor to belly fat, and doesn’t even deliver properly on the liver support.

Reviewing Liv Pure by by cost, I’m giving it a D. You can replicate what Liv Pure is trying to provide you with better quality generics for many times less.

Reviewing Liv Pure by for safety, I’m giving it a C. Some ingredients like berberine may interfere with medications, and the lack of dosing information makes it difficult to determine accurate safety info.

Overall review, I’m giving Liv Pure an F. I would recommend you stay away from it.

Top alternatives to Liv Pure

If I were to closely replicate what Liv Pure is attempting to achieve, which is a combination of liver support and support for fat metabolism, I would consider a combination of a milk thistle extract + berberine + green tea or green coffee extract.

• Berberine (dihydro) – 2 to 4 caps / day
• Berberine (generic) – 2 to 3 caps w/ meals
• Berberine (Thorne) – 1 to 2 caps w/ meals
• Green coffee (caps) – 1 to 2 caps / day
• Green tea (caps) – 2 to 4 caps / day
• Green tea (teabags, decaf) – 1 to 4 cups / day
• Green tea (teabags) – 1 to 4 cups / day
• Milk Thistle – 3 to 6 caps / day

Learn more about

• Berberine for Weight Loss
• Green Tea For Weight Loss
• Green Coffee Bean For Weight Loss
• Soy: an overview
• 6 Things To Look For On Supplements
• 5 Things to Know Before Buying Weight Loss Supplements
• Other weight loss supplements

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