There is no conclusive evidence to prove that drinking a mixture of tamarind and plum cures fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 14, 2022
A video is being shared on social media where a man explains that drinking juice prepared by soaking tamarind and plum in water cures fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. Let’s fact-check this video through this article.
Claim: Drinking a mixture of tamarind and plum soaked in water cures fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis.
Fact: Although a few studies show both tamarind and plum demonstrate positive effects against liver ailments, further investigation is required to prove their effectiveness in curing fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. Contrary to what the post claims, no studies prove the effectiveness of the mixture of tamarind and plum in treating the said liver diseases. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Fibrosis.
According to Cleaveland clinic,’ Fatty liver disease is a common condition caused by the storage of extra fat in the liver. Most people have no symptoms, and it doesn’t cause serious problems for them. In some cases, though, it can lead to liver damage. The good news is you can often prevent or even reverse fatty liver disease with lifestyle changes.‘ ‘Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins including collagen that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases.’
Factly searched the internet with relevant keywords for research done on the mixture of tamarind and plum as the cure for fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. But, we could only find a few studies on tamarind and plum’s effectiveness on liver ailments and not on the mixture. A study on the effect of prunes (plums) on liver function showed that ‘prunes may have clinical relevance in appropriate cases, and prunes might prove beneficial in hepatic disease.‘ But we found no study aimed at liver fibrosis or fatty liver disease proving the effect of prunes in curing them.
A study showed a positive effect of tamarind on high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats. But this has to be further explored as a cure for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Healthline states that tamarind may have medicinal properties and can be used as a tarnish remover.
The studies mentioned above do not prove that drinking a mixture of tamarind and plum soaked overnight in water cures fatty liver disease or liver fibrosis. Also, there is no scientific evidence to suggest the same.
Treatment for fatty liver disease
According to the Cleveland clinic, ‘The liver has an amazing ability to repair itself. If you avoid alcohol or lose weight, it’s possible to reduce liver fat and inflammation and reverse early liver damage.’  Mayoclinic says, ‘Ideally, a loss of 10% of body weight is desirable, but improvement in risk factors can become apparent if you lose even 3% to 5% of your starting weight.’ No drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating this.
As per the fatty liver foundation, ‘Currently, the experts who treat liver disease (AASLD), recommend no specific diet for liver health. There are not enough well-designed clinical trials focused specifically on the liver to give the organ experts confidence to make official dietary recommendations.’
Treatment for liver fibrosis
Healthline says, ‘Treatment options for liver fibrosis usually depend upon the underlying cause of the fibrosis. A doctor will treat the underlying illness, if possible, to reduce the effects of liver disease.’ According to medical news today, ‘Scientists have yet to develop medications that directly reverse or treat the damage associated with liver fibrosis. However, research into antifibrotic drugs, which will reduce or prevent the fibrotic process, is ongoing.’ To learn more about the treatment options, click here.
To sum up, there is no conclusive evidence to prove drinking a mixture of tamarind and plum cures fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis.