This 1 Vitamin May Reverse a Common Health Condition, According to a Hepatologist
- Symptoms of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) include upper right abdomen pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
An ache in your upper right abdomen, extreme fatigue
, loss of appetite
, a swollen belly, unexpected weight loss, and yellowing of your skin and eyes—if you have any of those symptoms (and even if you don’t), you may have a condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
, previously known as "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease."
Essentially, this liver disease means your body stores fat in the liver, which can cause inflammation
. It’s one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
To be clear, MASLD isn’t a life sentence. Plus, according to a recent study
and several hepatologists, there’s another solution that may be able to reverse the condition.
Related: This Is the #1 Most Important Habit for Liver Health, According to a Hepatologist
The Vitamin That Can Help Reverse This Common Liver Condition
Vitamin B3 , also known as niacin, is found in several foods, including red meat, poultry, fish, brown rice, fortified cereals and breads, nuts, seeds, legumes and bananas. And it could help reverse MASLD.
The study on this topic looked at miR-93 (a type of RNA) buildup and found that more vitamin B3 led to lower miR-93 levels.
“Lower miR-93 levels correlated with reduced fat build-up in the liver in mice,” says Dr. Amol Rangnekar, MD
,a hepatologist and liver disease expert with MedStar Health and MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute. “Treatment with niacin (vitamin B3) was seen to reduce miR-93 and subsequently decrease fat buildup in the liver.”
“There is also data that it can reduce lipid synthesis enzymes,” adds Dr. Wajahat Mehal, MD,DPhil
, a professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and the director of the Yale Fatty Liver Disease Program and the Yale Metabolic Health and Weight Loss Program.
But how does that happen?
Related: This Common Condition May Age Your Brain by a Decade
“Firstly, it helps reduce triglycerides in the blood and optimize your lipid metabolism,” says Dr. Hardeep Singh, MD ,a hepatologist and gastroenterologist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California. “This could lead to less fat deposition in the liver. Secondly, niacin is an antioxidant, which could reduce oxidative stress on the liver, leading to less inflammation and eventually, less scarring from fatty liver disease.”
To be clear, the study’s finding isn’t a definite solution, especially for humans. “This is a preliminary study done in mice,” Dr. Rangnekar says. “While it is an interesting finding, we would need further studies in humans to assess for efficacy and safety before recommending routine use.”
Further, the available studies produced mixed results. For example, authors in a 2024 study in Nutrients suggest that “further research is warranted to establish a causal relationship,” and a 2024 study in BMC Public Health found niacin decreased the odds of MASLD until a certain threshold, in which the odds increased.
Plus, there’s the consideration of time. “This can take a significant amount of time to improve (i.e., years),” Dr. Singh adds.
Related: This Is the Best Food for Liver Health, According to Registered Dietitians
How Much Vitamin B3 Is 'Good'?
Since limited information is available on the subject, there aren’t specifics to suggest here, like the required amount of vitamin B3 for reversal.
But when it comes to adequate vitamin B3 consumption, Dr. Rangnekar is not concerned. “Most Americans obtain adequate niacin through a regular diet, and fortunately, niacin deficiency is rare in this country,” he explains.
He also warns against the harms of getting too much niacin in your diet, noting it can lead to flushing, elevations of liver enzymes in the blood, increased insulin resistance and occasional cases of severe toxicity with jaundice.
Related: Here's How To Know if Your Liver Needs a Detox
More Benefits of Vitamin B3
Even if niacin doesn’t help reverse MASLD, it’s still vital. “It is an essential vitamin that is needed for many important chemical reactions in the body,” Dr. Mehal says.
Niacin , or vitamin B3, helps turn food into energy, keeps the nervous system and digestive system healthy, promotes skin health and can aid in managing cholesterol.
Related: Want To Improve Your Brain Health? Experts Agree This Is the Most Important Supplement To Take
Tips on Treating MASLD
The main state of treatment, Dr. Singh and Dr. Mehal say, is dietary changes and weight loss, if applicable. Dr. Singh encourages eating lean protein (such as fish, chicken and turkey), minimizing red meat and carbs, eating more fish oil and drinking more black coffee (yes, really).
Some people need to be particularly careful with weight and diet changes, however, due to previous (or potential) experiences with disordered eating and fatphobia . Your best bet is probably talking to an anti-diet dietitian who can help you through this process—even if you don’t think you “need” it.
In short, the research we have on vitamin B3 and its potential to reverse MALSD is promising, but we don’t know for sure just how effective it is. Until then, listen to doctors and dietitians, and do what’s best for your mind and body.
Up Next:
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Sources:
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Dr. Amol Rangnekar, MD , a hepatologist and liver disease expert
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Dr. Wajahat Mehal, MD, DPhil , a doctor who specializes in obesity medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology
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Dr. Hardeep Singh, MD , a hepatologist and gastroenterologist
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Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) , Cleveland Clinic
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Niacin — Vitamin B3 , The Nutrition Source
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Niacin , Mayo Clinic
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
