Have you heard people mention drinking cranberry juice to help with liver health? Because primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an irreversible condition that affects the liver, you might wonder if changes to your diet — like drinking cranberry juice — might offer health benefits.

In this article, you’ll learn what the research tells us about the effects of cranberry juice on liver health.

Does Cranberry Juice Help Your Liver?

There have been no studies looking specifically at the effects of cranberry juice on PBC. However, some research has studied the effects of cranberries on metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, or MASLD (previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD). Since both PBC and MASLD affect the liver, some of the studies’ results may apply to overall liver function. Keep in mind that most of the studies involved cranberry supplementation in the form of pills, tablets, and powders, not cranberry juice.

Reduced Fat Buildup

One study looked at mice with NAFLD caused by obesity. The study found that cranberry extract helped reduce the buildup of fat in the mice’s livers. Less fat accumulation could benefit people with PBC, since their livers struggle to process fat properly. An estimated 75 percent to 95 percent of people with PBC have high cholesterol, and cranberry may help improve these levels too.

Decreased Inflammation

PBC is an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system attack itself, causing inflammation. The mouse study mentioned earlier also showed that cranberry extract decreased liver inflammation in the mice. For people with PBC, less inflammation in the liver could help manage symptoms and possibly slow down the disease’s progression.

Less Oxidative Stress

Liver cells can get damaged when there are too many harmful molecules (called free radicals) and not enough helpful ones (called antioxidants). This imbalance is known as oxidative stress. Cranberries are a good source of antioxidants, which may help with this imbalance. In the mouse study, the mice’s liver cells showed less oxidative stress thanks to the cranberry extract, and as a result, less cell damage. Less damage to liver cells could potentially mean better liver function for someone with PBC.

Improving Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is when your cells don’t respond properly to insulin, the hormone that helps regulate your blood sugar. The liver plays an important role in blood sugar regulation. Because PBC affects the liver, people with PBC often experience insulin resistance.

Another study found that dried cranberry supplements (in powder, capsule, or tablet form) may help improve insulin resistance in people with MASLD. While researchers don’t know for sure if this could help people with PBC, it’s possible there could be similar benefits.

The research suggests that cranberries might help the liver at a molecular level. The studies done so far show that cranberry supplementation has the potential to reduce some stress on the liver when dealing with chronic liver disease. However, more clinical trials are needed, especially on how cranberry juice specifically affects PBC.

Cranberry Juice and Other Conditions

Cranberry products have also been used for other conditions, most commonly for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cranberry juice is thought to decrease the bacteria in the urinary tract, which can help prevent UTIs.

The effectiveness of cranberries as a medical supplement for other conditions is still being studied. There is minimal research on the effects of cranberries on ulcers, cancer, high cholesterol, viruses, and bacterial illnesses.

Should You Drink Cranberry Juice for PBC?

While early research on cranberry products and liver health is promising, it’s important to understand that cranberry juice is not a treatment for PBC. Cranberry juice can be a helpful addition to your diet, but it won’t cure or treat your PBC. This progressive liver disease doesn’t have a cure.

Treatment options like medications can help slow the progression of the disease or manage your symptoms. Lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet, reducing alcohol consumption, and exercising, can help manage symptoms. Supportive therapies can also help manage certain symptoms.

If you’re thinking about trying cranberry juice, keep in mind that many store-bought cranberry juices are high in sugar. If you have PBC, this extra sugar can put additional stress on your liver. If you already struggle with insulin sensitivity or have diabetes, try to limit juices as much as possible for better blood sugar management.

Cranberries can also interact with some medications, so it’s important to ask your healthcare provider if cranberry juice or cranberry supplementation might be a good addition to your diet.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyPBCteam is the social network for people with primary biliary cholangitis and their loved ones. On myPBCteam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with primary biliary cholangitis.

Have you been diagnosed with PBC? Have you tried drinking cranberry juice to help with your symptoms? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.