Here in Taiwan, dietary supplements claiming to protect against liver diseases are widely used by people working long hours. But the effectiveness and safety of many of them are actually questionable. Doctors warn that misuse of such products may hurt the liver and even be life-threatening.

This 68-year-old veteran actor, Shih-Ying, has hepatitis B and because of filming that frequently leads him to stay up all night, he has eaten a lot of medicine to protect his liver.

He never thought that it would go too far and lead to fulminant hepatic necrosis and almost cost him his life.

Liver disease has been Taiwan's national disease.

According to Health Department statistics, there are about three million Taiwanese people suffering from hepatitis B.

Many believe that eating liver enhancing products and medicines can help them and improve immunity. However, many of these health products have not gone through long-term clinical trials, and over consumption can be counterproductive.

If one is not careful, one may need liver dialysis. Because the liver has no nerves, there is no obvious early symptoms of liver disease and just 25% of a liver can maintain normal function as many people get fulminant hepatitis which can later lead to liver cancer.

Doctors propose that in addition to regular testing, one should not stay up late, smoke, drink alcohol and eat less fried or pickled food.

Also, one should not eat random food or medicine as the best way to protect the liver.

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