Kiwi Fruit, Human Milk, Papaya, Parsley, And Celery: Top Antioxidants That Guard Against Liver Disease

Liver disease can harm human health beyond estimation but some common antioxidants found in food like kiwi fruit, soy, parsley, papaya, celery, and human breast milk are able to protect the liver against liver diseases. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the babies of obese mice can be avoided with thee antioxidants.

 The natural antioxidant called "Pyrroloquinoline quinone," or PQQ is naturally present in soil, several foods and is enriched in human milk. These antioxidants were fed to mouse mothers during pregnancy and nursing.  The off springs of these mothers had no developing liver fat or damage that leads to NAFLD when they grow adults, says the study's lead author Karen Jonscher, PhD, an associate professor of anesthesiology and a physicist at CU Anschutz.

 In humans, the protection can be stronger as the breast milk is already enriched with these antioxidants. NFLD is becoming a highly common disease in the world; only in the US 20% to 30% adults are affected. From obese population, 60% are affected. NFLD increases the risk of liver cancer and type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, reports Longevity News.

The study is first of its kind to demonstrate that PQQ can protect the children of obese mothers form liver disease resulting from obesity.  With this, it becomes possible for obese mothers to cave their children from NFLD and other liver diseases by increasing antioxidants in their diet during pregnancy and breast feeding their children. This gives them protection in later years, reports Science Daily.

The antioxidants reduce inflammation in the liver, the study found. Adding antioxidants in the diet of a mother is a therapeutic target and more studies are needed to find expanded knowledge to reduce the risks of NFLD and other cardiovascular diseases in babies of obese mothers.