Literature Support for the Role of Fulvic Acid and Humic Acid in Liver Function Improvement
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Effect of humic substances on mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation
Takeaway: Fulvic and humic acids stimulate liver cell respiration.
Type of Article: Original research
Summary: Fulvic and humic acids extracted from a podzol were shown to stimulate respiration in rat liver mitochondria when present at concentrations of between 40 and 360 mg L−1. Low molecular weight fractions induced a more significant increase in respiration than high molecular weight material.
https://sci-hub.se/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0048969787905213
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Experimental bases and prospects for the use of humic acid preparations from peat in medicine and agricultural production
(Note: Original article is in Russian language)
Takeaway: Humic acid may support liver function and protect against liver disease.
Type of Article: Original research
Summary: Humate plays a role in the liver function and protects somewhat from disease and/or disturbances.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1665990/
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An examination of humate stimulated liver functions
(Note: Original article is in Polish language)
Takeaway: Long-term application of humic acid may help in liver regeneration.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: The effect of natural humic acid on the regenerative response of liver tissue has been examined in rats submitted to two-thirds hepatectomy. Long-term application of humic acid resulted in the stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase, an increase in spermidine and histamine as well as RNA and DNA levels, and in overall liver mass.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5945446A/en
(Original citation is: Maslinski, C., Fogel, W. A. and Andrzejewski, W. (1993): An examination of humate stimulated liver functions. Acta Pol. Pharm., 50(4-5):413-416; since the original link was not available, this is the link to a patent that cites the original article and describes its results)
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Humic and fulvic acids alleviate oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide
Takeaway: Humic and fulvic acids may protect the liver against oxidative damage.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: Humic acid and fulvic acid were evaluated for their protective effect against oxidative stress and induced liver damage in rats by estimating SOD, GPx activity as well as MDA levels. The results revealed that the administered humic acid and fulvic acid showed a significant reduction in both enzymes indicating their protective effects against induced oxidative damage, via GPx and SOD defense enzymes modulation. Fulvic acid exhibited more potent protective activity at a dose of 150 mg/Kg.
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Effect of fulvic and humic acids on iron and manganese homeostasis in rats
Takeaway: Fulvic acid may improve iron levels in liver.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: In a rat-based study, fulvic acid (FA) proved to be a good iron source, and slightly increased the iron content of liver and kidney, but – up to a dietary iron level of 52.7 mg/kg – it did not influence the efficiency of iron absorption.
https://akjournals.com/view/journals/004/65/1/article-p66.xml
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Research on the biological effects of fulvic and humic acids in rats
Takeaway: Fulvic and humic acids can improve the level of copper mineral in the liver.
Type of Article: PhD Dissertation
Summary: In this rat-based study, the copper content of the liver was significantly elevated by 0.2% and 0.8% fulvic acid (FA) supplementation. Meanwhile, the 0.1% humic acid supplementation group had increased copper content, but the 0.2% group had decreased copper content in the liver.
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The acute effect of humic acid on iron accumulation in rats
Takeaway: Humic acid may protect against iron-induced liver toxicity through its anti-oxidant properties.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: This study showed that humic acid (HA) was protective against iron-induced hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity via its anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger effects in both histopathological and biochemical levels. Presumably, it exerts this effect by reducing ROS activity through anti-oxidant features such as lipid peroxidation inhibition and enhanced enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidant systems. HA can possibly be used as a protective agent against iron-induced hepatic and heart injury. However, further clinical studies are needed to demonstrate the protective effects of HA against iron-induced hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity.
https://sci-hub.ru/10.1007/s12011-015-0507-0
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Evaluation of humic acid as an aflatoxin binder in broiler chickens
Takeaway: Humic acid may protect against liver damage caused by toxins like aflatoxin.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: The efficacy of humic acid (HA) as an aflatoxin (AF) binder in broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin-contaminated feed from 1 to 42 days of age was assessed. Oxihumate was effective in diminishing the adverse effects caused by aflatoxin on body weight (BW) of broilers. Humic acid also showed protective effects against liver damage and some of the hematological and serum biochemical changes associated with aflatoxin toxicity. The supplementation of HA also enhanced the humoral immunity by counteracting the aflatoxin contamination. Results indicated that HA could alleviate some of the toxic effects of aflatoxin in growing broilers. Humic acid (0.1 to 0.3%) might, therefore, prove to be beneficial in the management of aflatoxin-contaminated feedstuffs for poultry when used in combination with other mycotoxin management practices.
https://sciendo.com/pdf/10.1515/aoas-2016-0050
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Study on the effect of humic acid on growth performance, immunological, some blood parameters and control intestinal Clostridium in broiler chickens
Takeaway: Humic acid may decrease the levels of liver enzymes that become elevated in infection.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: Humic acid induced significant reduction in liver enzymes and metabolites like aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatases, and an insignificant decrease in uric acid and creatinine in broiler chickens, which are otherwise increased in the case of infection.
https://zvjz.journals.ekb.eg/article_29352.html
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Effects of fulvic acid addition on laying performance, biochemical indices, and gut microbiota of aged hens
Takeaway: Humic and fulvic acid may protect the liver by reducing oxidative stress.
Type of Article: Original Research
Summary: The existence of serum enzymes and their levels in the blood can help determine the extent of organ or tissue damage. Because they are synthesized in the liver, ALT, AST, and total bilirubin are essential indices for monitoring the liver function of chickens. Diets containing potassium humate had lower AST values than diets containing 17.5% canola meal. In this study on hens, it was found that fulvic acid was able to reduce serum AST levels and tended to decrease total bilirubin. This may indicate that humic acid can protect the liver by reducing free radicals produced during liver metabolism
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.953564/full
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