Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, may play an important role in helping people with a fatty liver to reduce their liver fat levels and ultimately work towards reversing fatty liver disease.

Why?

Niacin plays an important role in fat metabolism:

Reduces transport of fatty acids into the liver
Reduces creation of fatty acids in the liver*
Increases removal of fatty acids from the liver

*Niacin is known to block the DGAT2 enzyme in liver cells which reduces the synthesis of triglycerides

Essentially, Niacin helps the liver to strike a balance between the import, export and usage of fatty acids.

This is very important given that these mechanisms are often faulty in people living with NAFLD.

Dietary Niacin & Liver Health

Some foods to consider incorporating or prioritizing that are quite high in Vitamin B3 are listed below.

Fatty Liver Friendly Sources

Green peas
Salmon
Mushrooms
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Tuna [Canned/Fresh]
Peanuts
Hemp/Chia Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Sweet Potato
Avocado

Many of these foods have significant nutritional influence that goes well beyond their B3 content.

Most are also widely enjoyed and accessible foods that I want you to know can play a meaningful role in any dietary strategy geared at reversing fatty liver disease.

Animal protein sources like beef, pork and chicken are also high in Vitamin B3 and of course help a great deal to hit daily protein targets.