Anchor Health's Liv-R Support ingredients are:

• Milk Thistle (80% Silybin/Silymarin)
  This prickly herb has been used by herbalists to treat liver ailments for more than 2,000 years. Milk thistle is thought to work by cleaning the liver of toxins and preventing the reduction of glutathione, an amino acid-like compound produced by the body to fight free radicals and toxins.
  
  The main active ingredient of milk thistle, a flavonoid called silymarin, is a powerful antioxidant and hepatoprotector (liver protector). Recent studies suggest that silymarin can also help protect the liver by preventing toxins from penetrating the outer membrane of liver cells, and by promoting the formation of new liver cells to replace old and damaged ones.
  
  In a large-scale study of more than 2,500 people suffering from chronic liver disease, milk thistle extract has been shown to improve liver functions and speed up recovery time.
  
  Liv-R Support contains 80% silybin and silymarin content, one of the highest available today.
  
  
• Vitamin B6
  An indispensable member of the B-vitamin family, vitamin B6 is used in no fewer than 100 chemical and metabolic reactions in your body every day. This workhorse vitamin has many functions, including keeping the liver healthy and aiding in detoxification.
  
  
• Chromium
  Chromium is an essential trace element and is a part of the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) that is involved in blood sugar regulation. Because alcohol can cause the liver to convert glycogen into sugar, adding chromium to your nutritional supplement regimen may help prevent crashing of blood sugar levels and curb carving for sweets.
  
  
• Choline
  Choline is a member of the B-vitamin family - here, it is involved in the regulation of fat metabolism and the prevention of the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the liver.
  
  
• Carnitine
  In addition to its famous role in boosting metabolism, carnitine has been shown to prevent and reverse the damage caused by alcohol-induced buildup of fat in the liver.
  
  
• L-Methionine
  This sulfur-containing amino acid can neutralize acetaldehyde, a toxin released in the metabolism of alcohol. Furthermore, methionine is also a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione, one of the main anti-toxin compounds in the liver.
  
  
• Inositol
  Inositol is a lipotropic or a nutrient that promotes the removal of fatty acids from the liver. Inositol, in conjunction with choline (see above), helps prevent the accumulations of fats and bile in the liver, which can then cause metabolic problems and cirrhosis.
  
  
• Dandelion Root
  In addition to its well known role as a kidney detoxifier, dandelion root can also help cleanse the liver from accumulated toxins. This herb has been used for centuries to treat various liver conditions, from jaundice to hepatitis, as well as to promote normal digestion.
  
  
• Artichoke Leaf
  Extracts of artichoke leaf, rich in cynarin, has been used as a traditional medicine for digestive and liver conditions. Some people have used this herb to prevent alcohol-induced hangovers, however, this benefit has yet to be confirmed by scientific studies.
  
  
• Oregon Grape Root
  Oregon grape root is rich in berberine and hydrastine, two plant alkaloids with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. This herb is commonly used as tonic for the liver and gallbladder.
  
  
• Curcumin C3 Complex
  Curcumin is the active ingredient of the Indian spice turmeric. This compound is known to have antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
  
  For the liver, curcumin's protective effect is similar to that of silymarin of milk thistle and cynarin of artichoke leaf. Curcumin can also act as a choleretic to increase the production of bile and is traditionally used for the treatment of liver and gallbladder conditions.
  
  Anchor Health's Liv-R Support contains a patented formula of curcumin called Curcumin C3 Complex, which is standardized to contain a minimum of 95% concentration of curcumin, bisdemethoxy curcumin and demethoxy curcumin.
  
  
• Boldo Leaf
  Boldo leaf is a South American herb used for liver ailments - recent scientific excavations suggest that boldo leaf has been used as traditional medicine in Chile as early as 13,000 years ago!
  
  Boldo leaf acts as a liver and gallbladder stimulant, and can also be used to relieve gastrointestinal spasm and digestive complaints.
  
  
• Schizandra Berry
  This berry is the fruit of a woody vine commonly found in Asia and Eastern Europe. In addition to its use as food, in Chinese medicine Schizandra is used for a variety of conditions, including kidney and liver ailments.
  
  Research by Chinese scientists suggests that Schizandra can help regenerate liver tissue damaged by hepatitis and alcohol.
  
  
• Gotu Kola
  Gotu kola or Centella asiatica is an Ayurvedic medicine used therapeutically in India for wound healing, venous health, and memory.
  
  Scientists think that the active ingredient of gotu kola called triterpenes, can help the production of collagen in connective tissues, strengthen blood vessels, and aid the production of neurotrasmitters in the brain.
  
  For the liver, gotu kola was successfully tested for reducing inflammation and improving liver functions in people with liver damaged by alcohol and scarring.
  
  
• Bromelain
  Bromelain is a group of digestive enzymes found in pinapple, with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Preliminary research also suggests that bromelain may help prevent deposition of harmful protein fibers called amyloids in the kidney, liver, and heart.
  
  
• Bioperene (from Black Pepper Extract)
  Bioperene is a standardized extract of black pepper or long pepper. It contains a minimum of 98% piperine, the active ingredient of pepper that is found only at 3 to 9% in raw forms.
  
  Black pepper is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine for digestive disorders - animal studies suggest that black pepper extract can reduce the effects of oxidative stress on the liver, heart, kidney, and intestine due to a high fat diet.
  
  

Select Scientific References

• Dhiman RK and Chawla YK. Herbal medicines for liver diseases. Dig Dis Sci. 2005; 50(10):1807-12.
• Rambaldi A, et al. Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005; 18(2):CD003620.
• Saller R, et al. The use of silymarin in the treatment of liver diseases. Drugs 2001; 61(14):2035-63.
• Gebhardt R. Anticholestatic activity of flavonoids from artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) and of their metabolites. Med Sci Monit. 2001; 7 Suppl 1:316-20.
• Ammon HP and Wahl MA. Pharmacology of Curcuma longa. Planta Med. 1991; 57(1):1-7.
• Wu MD, et al. The anti-HBsAg (human type B hepatitis, surface antigen) and anti-HBeAg (human type B hepatitis, e antigen) C18 dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Kadsura matsudai and Schizandra arisanensis.
• Darnis F, et al. Use of titrated extract of Centella asiatica in chronic hepatitis disorders. Sem Hop. 1979; 55(37-38):1749-50.
• Vijayakumar RS, et al. Antioxidant efficacy of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and piperine in rats with high fat diet induced oxidative stress. Redox Rep. 2004; 9(2):105-10.