Can plum & tamarind-infused drink cure fatty liver, liver fibrosis?

Hyderabad: Can drinking water infused with plum and tamarind cure liver diseases?

In a viral video, a doctor can be seen telling a large crowd that drinking water infused with plum and tamarind can cure fatty liver and liver fibrosis and rejuvenate the liver. Finish the drink within 15 minutes, he adds.

Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove toxins.

Let's debunk the claim.

FACT CHECK

What is fatty liver?

According to MedlinePlus, fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in your liver. There are two main types—Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Alcoholic fatty liver disease, also called alcoholic steatohepatitis.

What is liver fibrosis?

A study describes liver fibrosis as the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen, that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases. Advanced liver fibrosis results in cirrhosis, liver failure, and portal hypertension and often requires liver transplantation.

A study in 2010 showed that prune (dried plum) juice can help reduce some of the more harmful chemicals that occur as a result of problems with the liver. However, more research is necessary to explore the full potential of prune juice as a treatment for liver diseases.

At the same time, tamarind is also known to have medicinal properties and can be used as a tarnish remover.

Moreover, experts who treat liver disease (AASLD) recommend no specific diet for liver health. There are not enough well-designed clinical trials focused specifically on the liver to give organ experts confidence to make official dietary recommendations, according to the Fatty Liver Foundation.

NewsMeter reached out to an expert, Dr. B. Prabhakar, consultant gastroenterologist, therapeutic endoscopist and hepatologist from Apollo Hospitals, who said fatty liver disease, or hepatosteatosis, is increasing in the western world. He said tamarind fruit extract has been shown to provide a protective effect for the liver as it contains antioxidants called procyanidins, that counter free radical damage to the liver.

"It (tamarind and plum infused drink) will benefit the fatty liver. It cannot reverse liver fibrosis. In general, it rejuvenates the liver. It is a useful nutritional supplement but it is not a medicine or drug," the doctor added.

It is evident that though plum and tamarind have benefits there is no evidence that drinking this infusion will help cure liver diseases. Reach out for medical help if you have trouble with your liver.

The claim is misleading.