01Markers · Liver
Bilirubin
A yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down. The liver clears it into bile, so blood levels reflect red cell turnover and liver function.
- Measured in
- Blood (serum)
- Units
- mg/dL, µmol/L
- Also called
- total bilirubin, TBIL
- Milk thistle
- L-carnitine
- Taurine
- NAC
- Vitamin C
- Berberine
- Zinc
- Omega-3
- Creatine
- NAD+
- Resveratrol
- Ashwagandha
- Finnish sauna
- Collagen
- HIIT
- Iron
- L-theanine
- Lion's mane
- Magnesium
- Melatonin
- PQQ
- Red yeast rice
- Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K2
- Zone 2 cardio
AWhat moves Bilirubin
13 of 27 studied
Moves it6
Human studies found a change. The grade reflects the studies behind it, from A (strongest) to D.
Milk thistleLowersGrade A
Milk thistle lowers bilirubin.
Meta-analysis or review · Moderate effect · 14 studies linked
El-Kamary 2009 (RCT, n=105): indirect bilirubin significantly reduced (p=0.012) with faster clinical jaundice resolution. Effect mainly in decompensated/cholestatic populations. Choleretic mechanism (mech_012) proposed.
- Effects of silymarin supplementation on liver and kidney functions: A systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis (2024)
- High Dose of Silymarin in Patients with Decompensated Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2017)
- Antiviral activity and safety profile of silibinin in HCV patients with advanced fibrosis after liver transplantation: a randomized clinical trial (2014)
- A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs and biomarkers of acute hepatitis. (2009)
- Silymarin, a possible hepatoprotector in dairy cows: biochemical and histological observations. (2004)
- [Liver-protective action of silymarin therapy in chronic alcoholic liver diseases]. (1989)
- +8 more studies
L-carnitineLowersGrade A
L-carnitine lowers bilirubin.
Meta-analysis or review · 6 studies linked
28 studies in corpus; bilirubin not a primary endpoint in L-carnitine trials. No mechanistic basis for direct bilirubin modulation.
- Effect of oral l-carnitine on hepatic function in pediatric patients under repair of congenital cardiac defect. (2025)
- Effects of Oral L-Carnitine on Liver Functions after Transarterial Chemoembolization in Intermediate-Stage HCC Patients. (2015)
- Acetyl-L-carnitine reduces depression and improves quality of life in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy. (2011)
- Acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. (2008)
- Effect of L‐carnitine on liver enzymes and biochemical factors in hepatic encephalopathy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2019)
- Are bilirubin and plasma lipid profiles of premature infants dependent on the lipid emulsion infused? (1995)
TaurineLowersGrade B
Taurine lowers bilirubin.
Human trials · 3 studies linked
21 corpus studies. Bile acid conjugation mechanism is relevant but no bilirubin-specific outcome data.
- Could taurine supplementation improve graft functions after liver transplantation? A randomized clinical trial among liver transplant recipients. (2026)
- Effect of taurine on attenuating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. (2015)
- Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in neonates: multivariate analysis of the potential protective effect of taurine. (2005)
NACLowersGrade B
NAC lowers bilirubin.
Human trials · Moderate effect · 2 studies linked
- Role of Prophylactic N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Elective Double-Valve Replacement (Aortic and Mitral Valve). (2024)
- A study to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of N- acetylcysteine on anti tuberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity and quality of life. (2023)
Vitamin CLowersGrade B
Vitamin C lowers bilirubin.
Human trials · 2 studies linked
27 studies mention bilirubin. No systematic vitamin C → bilirubin effect extracted.
- Effects of Oral Vitamin C Supplementation on Liver Health and Associated Parameters in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. (2021)
- The effect of vitamin C supplementation in the last month of pregnancy on neonatal bilirubin levels; A double-blind randomized clinical trial. (2020)
BerberineRaisesGrade B
Berberine raises bilirubin.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Studied, no change7
Studies looked and found no meaningful change. That is a result, not missing data.
ZincNo changeGrade A
Studies of Zinc found no change in bilirubin.
Meta-analysis or review · 5 studies linked
yang_2018 MA (neonatal jaundice) shows modest bilirubin reduction. Mechanism in neonates: zinc sulfate may reduce enterohepatic bilirubin recirculation. No meaningful effect in adult hepatic or hemolytic conditions.
- The influence of zinc sulfate on neonatal jaundice: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2018)
- Zinc Supplementation Accelerates Bilirubin Reduction in Neonates with Hyperbilirubinemia: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial (2025)
- Effect of Oral Zinc Supplementation on Serum Bilirubin Levels in Term Neonates With Hyperbilirubinemia Undergoing Phototherapy: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial. (2023)
- Zinc Supplementation in Preterm Neonates with Jaundice: Is it Beneficial? (2021)
- Zinc Supplementation and the Effects on Pregnancy Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial. (2016)
Omega-3No changeGrade A
Studies of Omega-3 found no change in bilirubin.
Meta-analysis or review · Negligible effect · 4 studies linked
No direct MA evidence. Hepatic bilirubin metabolism not significantly altered by omega-3 at standard doses.
- Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial. (2025)
- Safety and efficacy of parenteral fish oil-containing lipid emulsions in premature neonates. (2015)
- Does intravenous fish oil benefit patients post-surgery? A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (2013)
- Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish oil supplementation during pregnancy: which evidence? (2016)
CreatineNo changeGrade A
Studies of Creatine found no change in bilirubin.
1 study linked
NAD+No changeGrade A
ResveratrolNo changeGrade A
Studies of Resveratrol found no change in bilirubin.
Meta-analysis or review · 1 study linked
24 corpus studies. Potentially increased in UGT1A1*28 carriers (Gilbert syndrome) taking resveratrol due to competitive UGT1A1 substrate interaction. Gap requiring dedicated extraction.
AshwagandhaNo changeGrade C
Studies of Ashwagandha found no change in bilirubin.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Finnish saunaNo changeGrade C
Studies of Finnish sauna found no change in bilirubin.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Not studied14
No usable human study has measured Bilirubin with these. A gap is not a negative result: nobody has looked.
CollagenHIITIronL-theanineLion's maneMagnesiumMelatoninPQQRed yeast riceUbiquinol (CoQ10)Vitamin D3Vitamin EVitamin K2Zone 2 cardio