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beef liver

Beef Liver (Desiccated Beef Liver) is a dietary supplement.

Desiccated Beef Liver

Not yet rated· sourced from the FDA label
Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 23, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass
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Key facts

Active ingredient
Desiccated Beef Liver
Type
Supplement

What is Beef Liver?

From the FDA label:A whole-food supplement rich in vitamin A, B12, and iron.

What the evidence says

Limited evidence

What Beef Liver is

Beef liver supplements are made from dried (desiccated) cattle liver, usually pressed into capsules or tablets and marketed as a whole-food source of the nutrients liver contains. As an organ meat, liver is naturally rich in preformed vitamin A (retinol), vitamin B12, iron, and copper. There is no NIH or NCCIH fact sheet for "beef liver" as a supplement itself, so the points below describe the nutrients liver supplies rather than proven effects of any liver pill.

Commonly used for

Marketed as a whole-food multivitamin or source of vitamin A and B12Taken by people seeking dietary iron or copperUsed by some on low-plant or carnivore-style dietsPromoted for energy or general wellness (not an evidence-based claim)

What the evidence shows

Rigorous evidence specifically on desiccated beef liver supplements is limited, and no US government health authority publishes an efficacy fact sheet for them. What is well established is that liver is a food source of certain nutrients: NIH lists beef liver among the best sources of vitamin B12 and notes that preformed vitamin A is concentrated in organ meats such as liver. Liver also supplies iron and copper as an animal-source food. Obtaining these nutrients can help correct or prevent a deficiency, but that does not mean a liver supplement treats fatigue, boosts energy, or improves health in people who are not deficient.

Typical dosage

There is no established or government-recommended dose for beef liver supplements, and products vary widely in how much vitamin A, iron, and copper they deliver. Because liver is concentrated in preformed vitamin A and iron — both of which have safety ceilings — more is not better, and stacking a liver product with a multivitamin can push intake toward a harmful range. Talk to a clinician or pharmacist before starting, especially if you are pregnant, take other supplements, or have a liver condition; they can check whether you actually need these nutrients.

Safety

NIH notes that beef liver is high in cholesterol and advises limiting how much you eat. The biggest concern is preformed vitamin A: getting too much (usually from supplements or certain medicines) can cause severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches, and problems with coordination, and in severe cases coma and death. Excess preformed vitamin A in pregnancy can cause birth defects, so pregnant people should be especially cautious. Liver also supplies iron, and accidental overdose of iron-containing products is among the leading causes of fatal poisoning in young children, so keep these products out of their reach.

Side effects

Because liver is dense in preformed vitamin A, regular or high intake can lead to vitamin A excess, with symptoms such as headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches, and trouble with coordination. The iron it supplies may cause stomach upset, constipation, or nausea in some people, and too much iron over time can be harmful. Liver also adds dietary cholesterol, which is why NIH advises limiting intake.

Interactions & cautions

Vitamin A from liver can add to other retinoid sources — including prescription retinoid medicines and high-dose vitamin A or multivitamins — raising the risk of vitamin A toxicity. The weight-loss drug orlistat can reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A. The iron in liver can affect the absorption of certain medications and can add to the iron from iron supplements. Tell your clinician about all supplements and medicines you take so doses can be reviewed.

Sources

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Summarized from public health authorities; general reference, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed healthcare professional before starting any supplement.

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Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

What people report to the FDA about Desiccated Beef Liver

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 3 reports naming Desiccated Beef Liver — the active ingredient in Beef Liver, and the FDA flagged 67% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

  • abdominal discomfort1 reports
  • asthenia1 reports
  • cough1 reports
  • fatigue1 reports
  • feeling abnormal1 reports
  • hyperactive pharyngeal reflex1 reports
  • productive cough1 reports
  • retching1 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean Desiccated Beef Liver caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.

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