How to Cure Jaundice in Newborns: 13 Safe Home Treatment Tips

Sudden yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes can be alarming for many. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin levels in the blood are elevated, often linked to the liver, bile ducts, or red blood cell breakdown. In newborns, jaundice is quite common, but in adults, it can signal a health issue that requires examination.

Notably, jaundice is not always dangerous, but it should not be ignored or self-treated at home without knowing the cause. In this article, Tiptory helps you quickly understand what jaundice is, its common causes, when to seek medical attention, and appropriate treatment directions for jaundice, thereby preventing incorrect treatment and missed opportunities for necessary intervention.

Part 1: When to seek medical attention for jaundice

Tip 1: Jaundice needs early examination

Seek medical attention when jaundice symptoms appear

• If the skin, whites of the eyes, or mucous membranes turn yellow, the patient should seek early medical attention instead of trying to treat jaundice at home. Jaundice often reflects elevated bilirubin levels in the blood and can be related to liver disease, bile duct issues, or red blood cell breakdown.

• In adults, jaundice is usually visible when serum bilirubin rises to about over 3 mg/dL, though visual detection can vary among individuals. Therefore, relying solely on skin color to assess the severity of the disease is insufficient.

Pay attention to accompanying symptoms

• When jaundice appears, also monitor for symptoms such as:

  • Fever or chills.

  • Abdominal pain, especially if severe or in the upper right abdomen.

  • Fatigue, nausea, or loss of appetite.

  • Dark urine or pale stools.

  • Generalized itching.

  • Skin and whites of the eyes becoming progressively yellower.

• These symptoms do not precisely identify the cause but help the doctor guide jaundice treatment and find the underlying disease.

Know when emergency care is needed

• If jaundice is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting blood, black stools, or easy bleeding, immediate medical evaluation is required. These can be signs of a serious liver or bile duct condition.

• Specifically, fever with severe pain in the upper right abdomen and jaundice may suggest acute cholangitis, a condition requiring urgent intervention.

Do not self-treat without knowing the cause

• Treating jaundice is not simply about making the skin less yellow. The doctor needs to determine the cause first, such as hepatitis, drug- or alcohol-induced liver damage, bile duct obstruction, gallstones, or increased red blood cell destruction.

• During the examination, the doctor may order tests for total and direct/indirect bilirubin, a complete blood count, AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and coagulation tests. Depending on the suspected cause, ultrasound or other imaging methods may be performed.

• Therefore, the safest approach to treating jaundice is to find the cause → assess the extent of damage → treat the cause, rather than just focusing on reducing the yellow color of the skin or eyes.

Tip 2: Jaundice in children needs early examination

Take your child for examination if signs of jaundice appear

• Jaundice in newborns is quite common and usually resolves on its own within about 2 weeks. However, some cases with significantly elevated bilirubin can cause severe neurological damage if not detected and treated promptly. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), over 80% of newborns may exhibit some degree of jaundice, so bilirubin monitoring is crucial.

• Parents should check if the child's skin is turning yellow, especially on the face, head, and then spreading to the body. Yellowing of the whites of the child's eyes is also a common sign. However, observing skin color alone cannot accurately determine bilirubin levels; the doctor may need to measure transcutaneous bilirubin or perform a blood test for assessment.

Contact a doctor if a child develops jaundice

• If a child over 24 hours old starts showing signs of jaundice, parents should contact a doctor or healthcare facility for evaluation, especially if the jaundice does not decrease or becomes more pronounced.

• Jaundice in infants within the first 24 hours after birth requires rapid assessment as this is a significant risk factor for severe hyperbilirubinemia. The AAP recommends measuring total serum bilirubin or transcutaneous bilirubin as soon as possible in such cases.

Recognize signs that require emergency care

• Parents must take their child to the emergency room immediately if jaundice is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

  • Unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking the child.

  • Refusal to feed or significantly poor feeding.

  • Limpness, stiffness, or seizures/convulsions.

  • Fever of 38°C or higher or low body temperature of 36°C or lower.

  • No wet diapers or very little urination.

  • Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, or signs of respiratory distress.

  • Jaundice appearing in an infant under 24 hours old.

• These signs should not be treated with home remedies for jaundice, as severe hyperbilirubinemia can lead to bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus, a form of brain damage with a risk of long-term motor and hearing impairments.

Jaundice treatment depends on bilirubin levels

• Not all jaundiced infants require treatment. For many healthy infants, the condition resolves as the liver matures. If bilirubin reaches the intervention threshold, the doctor may prescribe phototherapy; very severe cases may require more specialized hospital treatments.

• When deciding on jaundice treatment, doctors consider not only skin color but also the child's age in hours, gestational age, bilirubin levels, and risk factors for neurological damage. Therefore, parents should not self-assess the severity of jaundice or self-medicate their child.

Monitor the child after returning home

• Frequent feeding, approximately 8–12 times a day in the early days, can help limit the risk of bilirubin elevation related to insufficient feeding. If the child is too sleepy or feeds poorly, parents should consult medical staff for guidance.

• If jaundice persists, especially for more than 2 weeks in formula-fed infants or more than 3–4 weeks in breastfed infants, total and direct bilirubin levels should be checked to identify pathological causes.

Tip 3: Jaundice needs the right cause identified

Identify the cause before treatment

• In adults, jaundice is not a distinct disease but often indicates elevated bilirubin in the blood. The cause can originate from the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, red blood cell destruction, or medication side effects. Therefore, to effectively treat jaundice, the first step is to accurately identify the underlying condition.

• Common causes include hepatitis A, B, C, alcohol-related liver disease, gallstones causing bile duct obstruction, cholangitis or cholecystitis, pancreatitis, autoimmune liver disease, and drug-induced liver injury. Some medications and herbal products can also cause liver damage leading to jaundice.

Step 1: Obtain symptoms and medical history

• Doctors typically ask about the onset of jaundice, its progression, and accompanying symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, itching, fatigue, nausea, dark urine, or pale stools. This information helps guide the cause before selecting tests.

• Patients should also provide full information about alcohol consumption, current medications, supplements, history of liver disease, and risk factors for viral hepatitis. These are crucial data for the doctor to differentiate between liver disease, bile duct obstruction, and drug-induced liver injury.

Step 2: Blood tests to find the cause

• Initial tests usually include total and direct/indirect bilirubin, complete blood count, AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and coagulation tests like PT/INR.

• Differentiating between conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin helps the doctor pinpoint the mechanism of jaundice. For example, increased unconjugated bilirubin may be related to increased red blood cell destruction or bilirubin metabolism disorders; while increased conjugated bilirubin is common in liver cell disease or cholestasis/obstruction.

Step 3: Imaging when necessary

• If bile duct obstruction or liver/gallbladder disease is suspected, the doctor may order an abdominal ultrasound. This is often the initial imaging method because it is non-invasive, relatively safe, and can detect gallstones or bile duct dilation.

• Depending on the case, the patient may need CT, MRI, or MRCP scans to better visualize the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. If bile duct obstruction is found, ERCP can both aid diagnosis and be used to address certain causes like obstructive stones.

Step 4: Liver biopsy in cases of unknown cause

• Liver biopsy is not a routine test for all cases of jaundice. This method is usually only considered when the medical history, blood tests, and imaging have not identified the cause or when the biopsy results are likely to impact treatment and prognosis.

Jaundice treatment must be based on the cause

• There is no single method for treating jaundice that applies to everyone. The doctor will treat the underlying disease causing elevated bilirubin. For example, bile duct obstruction may require intervention to clear the blockage, while hepatitis or drug-induced liver damage require different treatment approaches.

• Therefore, adults with jaundice should not self-medicate, take liver supplements, or use products advertised as quick jaundice cures without knowing the cause. Reducing the external yellow color while overlooking the internal disease is like turning off a warning light instead of fixing the engine: the symptoms may change, but the cause remains.

Tip 4: Treat the cause to reduce jaundice

Treat the disease causing jaundice

• Jaundice is often a symptom of another health problem, so jaundice treatment primarily focuses on the underlying cause of elevated bilirubin rather than just trying to reduce the yellow color of the skin and eyes.

• Once the doctor identifies the cause, the jaundice treatment plan will be chosen based on the specific condition, its severity, and the patient's health status.

Treating hepatitis and other liver conditions

• If jaundice is related to viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, or drug-induced liver damage, the doctor will treat or manage the underlying disease accordingly.

• Patients should not self-medicate, take supplements, or herbal remedies with the aim of treating jaundice, as some products can further damage the liver or interact with existing medications.

Addressing bile duct obstruction

• If jaundice is due to cholestasis, such as gallstones or an injury compressing the bile ducts, resolving the obstruction can help bilirubin decrease and the jaundice improve.

• Depending on the cause, the doctor may use endoscopic procedures, surgery, or other interventions to restore bile flow.

Monitoring and treating complications

• Some conditions causing jaundice can affect liver function, blood clotting, nutrition, or other organs. Therefore, the doctor may need to further monitor liver function tests, bilirubin, and related indicators.

• If severe abdominal pain, fever, confusion, abnormal bleeding, or rapidly worsening jaundice occurs, the patient needs early medical evaluation rather than continuing self-treatment at home.

Do not just focus on removing the yellow color

• Effective jaundice treatment means controlling or eliminating the cause of elevated bilirubin. When the underlying disease is appropriately treated, bilirubin levels can decrease, and the yellow color of the skin and eyes will gradually improve.

• Therefore, if you are looking for how to treat jaundice, the most important priority is to seek medical attention to determine the cause → treat the underlying disease → monitor bilirubin and liver function. This is a safer approach than merely using symptom-reducing measures.

Tip 5: Some cases of jaundice resolve on their own

Not every case requires immediate treatment

• Jaundice can resolve on its own in some cases, especially when the cause is temporary and does not lead to serious damage. However, it should not be assumed that jaundice will self-resolve without a proper evaluation of its cause.

• In adults, jaundice is often a sign of an underlying medical condition, so monitoring should be based on examination results and tests. Treating jaundice does not necessarily mean taking medication; sometimes the appropriate approach is to monitor for a certain period under the guidance of a doctor.

Only choose monitoring when the doctor confirms it is safe

• If the doctor determines that the jaundice is mild, the cause does not require specific intervention, and there are no dangerous signs, the patient may be advised to monitor jaundice at home instead of immediate treatment.

• During this time, follow-up appointments or tests should be scheduled to check bilirubin and liver function, and to detect early if the condition changes.

Do not wait for jaundice to resolve if there is an underlying condition

• Individuals with liver disease, hepatitis, gallbladder disease, bile duct obstruction, or who are taking medications that can affect the liver should not decide to forgo treatment on their own.

• If jaundice becomes more pronounced, persists, or is accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, severe itching, unusual fatigue, or confusion, contact a doctor for re-evaluation.

Jaundice treatment should be based on the cause

• The goal of jaundice treatment is not simply to make the skin less yellow but to determine if the body is experiencing problems with the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, blood, or other organs.

• Therefore, the safe approach is to identify the cause → assess the severity → treat or monitor as directed → re-check when necessary. For jaundice, "wait and see if it resolves on its own" is only appropriate when the cause is clearly known and the doctor has confirmed that monitoring is safe.

Tip 6: Relieve jaundice-related itching correctly

Use medication when itching affects daily life

• Some individuals with jaundice, especially when related to cholestasis or bile duct obstruction, may experience persistent skin itching. The itching is often more pronounced at night and can affect sleep and daily activities.

• If the itching is mild, you can start with care measures such as moisturizing, avoiding hot baths, wearing loose clothing, and keeping fingernails short to reduce skin damage from scratching.

Cholestyramine can be used to relieve itching

• For itching due to cholestasis, cholestyramine is one of the first-line treatment options. It belongs to the bile acid sequestrant group, helping to keep bile acids in the digestive tract and limiting their reabsorption. This mechanism can help reduce itching sensation in people with cholestatic liver disease.

• Cholestyramine is also used to lower cholesterol, but in the case of treating jaundice with itching due to cholestasis, the drug is used to control the itching symptom, not to cure the underlying cause of jaundice.

Administer medication at the correct time to avoid interactions

• Cholestyramine can reduce the absorption of many other medications. Therefore, patients should inform their doctor or pharmacist about all medications, vitamins, and supplements they are taking before starting this drug.

• According to the drug's instructions for use, other medications typically need to be taken at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after cholestyramine. The specific timing should follow the prescription and your doctor's instructions.

Monitor for side effects

• Cholestyramine can cause constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea, or bloating. Constipation is one of the most common side effects.

• If digestive symptoms persist, severe constipation occurs, or unusual signs appear, the patient should contact a doctor to adjust the usage or choose another method.

Do not self-medicate to treat jaundice

• Cholestyramine primarily helps to reduce itching due to cholestasis; it does not treat the cause of elevated bilirubin. Therefore, the medication does not replace identifying the cause and treating jaundice.

• If new-onset jaundice occurs or is accompanied by severe itching, abdominal pain, fever, dark urine, or pale stools, the patient should be examined to determine if there is liver disease or bile duct obstruction. Once the cause is addressed, jaundice and related symptoms may improve.

Tip 7: Treating Jaundice in Newborns

• Not all jaundiced infants require treatment

• Newborn jaundice is very common, and many mild cases can resolve on their own. However, if bilirubin levels rise to a threshold requiring intervention, the infant must be treated according to their age in hours, gestational age, bilirubin levels, and risk factors for neurological damage.

• Parents should not attempt to treat jaundice in infants at home based solely on skin color or the whites of the eyes. Doctors typically use transcutaneous bilirubin or total serum bilirubin to determine if an infant needs treatment.

Step 1: Phototherapy when bilirubin exceeds the threshold

• Phototherapy for jaundice is a commonly used method when bilirubin reaches the treatment threshold. Light of appropriate wavelengths converts bilirubin into forms that are more easily eliminated by the body, thereby helping to reduce bilirubin concentration in the blood.

• The threshold for starting phototherapy is not the same for all infants. The doctor will base it on the infant's age in hours, gestational age, and risk factors such as hemolysis, infection, or an unstable clinical condition.

• Do not attempt to expose infants to sunlight for jaundice treatment. AAP guidelines do not consider direct sunlight a reliable treatment method due to the difficulty in controlling light exposure and the risk of burns or skin damage.

Step 2: Consider immunoglobulin in some cases

• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may be considered by a doctor for infants with hemolytic disease due to immune incompatibility, such as ABO or Rh blood group incompatibility, when bilirubin continues to rise despite intensive phototherapy and the infant is approaching the threshold for urgent intervention.

• However, IVIG is not a routine treatment for jaundice. The AAP in 2022 stated that the effectiveness of IVIG in preventing exchange transfusion remains uncertain, and there are potential risks; therefore, the decision to use it must be made by a specialist doctor.

Step 3: Exchange transfusion for severe jaundice

• Exchange transfusion is an intensive treatment for very severe cases of hyperbilirubinemia or when an infant shows signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. A portion of the infant's blood is gradually replaced with compatible blood to rapidly remove bilirubin and hemolytic factors.

• This is an emergency procedure, performed in a neonatal intensive care unit with trained staff and full monitoring and resuscitation capabilities. Infants require intensive phototherapy during preparation and treatment as directed by a specialist.

Jaundice treatment requires close bilirubin monitoring

• When an infant requires jaundice treatment, the doctor will monitor bilirubin periodically to assess response and decide whether to continue, intensify, or change the treatment method. For cases requiring increased care, the AAP recommends very close monitoring of total bilirubin and management at a facility with neonatal resuscitation capability.

• Therefore, if an infant's jaundice deepens, appears within the first 24 hours after birth, feeds poorly, is lethargic, difficult to rouse, or shows unusual changes in muscle tone, parents should take the infant for immediate examination. Severe hyperbilirubinemia, if not treated promptly, can lead to acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus, resulting in long-term neurological damage.

Part 2: Effective Ways to Prevent Jaundice

Tip 1: Prevent hepatitis to reduce the risk of jaundice

Actively prevent viral hepatitis

• Some types of viral hepatitis can cause liver damage and lead to jaundice. Therefore, preventing hepatitis is one way to reduce the risk of jaundice due to liver disease. However, not all cases of jaundice are caused by hepatitis.

• Hepatitis viruses have different transmission routes. Hepatitis A is mainly transmitted through contaminated food or water, while hepatitis B and C are primarily associated with contact with infected blood or bodily fluids.

Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B

• Hepatitis A vaccine helps prevent hepatitis A virus infection. In addition to vaccination, attention should be paid to food and water safety, especially when traveling or eating in places with inadequate hygiene conditions.

• Hepatitis B vaccine is an important and effective preventive measure. WHO recommends administering the hepatitis B vaccine dose to newborns as early as possible after birth, while continuing the appropriate vaccination schedule.

• Currently, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C; therefore, preventing contact with infected blood is the primary measure to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

Eat safely to prevent hepatitis A

• To reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis A virus and other foodborne illnesses, you should:

  • Drink water from safe sources.

  • Eat thoroughly cooked food.

  • Wash hands with soap before eating and after using the restroom.

  • Be cautious with raw or improperly handled food, especially when traveling.

• These measures do not directly treat jaundice, but they help limit one of the groups of causes that can lead to liver damage and jaundice.

Do not share needles or instruments that may be contaminated with blood

• To prevent hepatitis B and C, never share needles, syringes, or any instruments that may come into contact with blood. Instruments used for tattooing, piercing, or cosmetic procedures must also be sterilized and used correctly.

• When medical procedures are needed, choose facilities that use sterile instruments and adhere to infection control protocols. This is a crucial step in reducing the risk of blood-borne virus transmission.

Understand the potential for infection correctly

• Hepatitis B and C are not transmitted through common contact such as hugging, shaking hands, or sharing food. Therefore, people should not shun those with viral hepatitis simply out of fear of contracting the disease through daily activities.

• For hepatitis C, WHO states that direct-acting antiviral medications can cure more than 95% of infected individuals when diagnosed and treated appropriately. Therefore, if there is a risk of exposure, early testing and treatment are more important than simply waiting for jaundice symptoms to appear.

Don't wait for jaundice to appear before getting tested

• Jaundice can appear when hepatitis has already affected liver function, but many cases of viral hepatitis progress with few or no obvious symptoms. Therefore, individuals at risk should discuss testing with a doctor instead of just observing skin and eye color.

• If jaundice has appeared, the goal is not just to find a quick way to treat jaundice, but to determine the cause. When the cause is viral hepatitis, treating jaundice needs to be linked to assessing and treating the liver disease according to professional guidelines.

Tip 2: Limit alcohol to protect the liver

Prioritize reducing or stopping alcohol consumption

• Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver and can cause liver damage if consumed regularly or in large quantities. In individuals with jaundice, especially when alcohol-related liver disease is suspected, continued alcohol consumption can worsen liver damage. WHO also emphasizes that no level of alcohol consumption is entirely without health risks.

• Therefore, if you are experiencing jaundice or have abnormal liver function tests, the cautious choice is to stop consuming alcohol and consult a doctor, rather than trying to maintain a "safe drinking level" to treat jaundice.

Do not apply old limits to people with existing liver disease

• Some previous literature suggested daily alcohol limits for healthy men and women. However, these figures should not be interpreted as safe levels for individuals with liver disease to continue drinking alcohol. WHO currently does not define an entirely harmless threshold for alcohol consumption.

• For people already suffering from alcohol-related liver disease, complete abstinence from alcohol is of particular importance. AASLD notes that sustained abstinence is a critical factor for long-term prognosis in individuals with alcohol-related liver disease.

Reducing alcohol does not replace jaundice treatment

• If jaundice is caused by alcohol or alcohol-related liver damage, stopping drinking can be an important part of the liver's recovery process. However, the patient still needs to be examined to determine the extent of the damage and rule out other causes such as viral hepatitis, biliary obstruction, or autoimmune liver disease.

• Jaundice treatment needs to focus on the cause. Stopping alcohol but ignoring warning signs or not checking liver function can lead to delayed detection of underlying conditions.

If you find it difficult to stop drinking alcohol, seek support

• Individuals who have regularly consumed alcohol for an extended period should not abruptly stop if there is a risk of alcohol dependence, as withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Consult a doctor for assessment and to develop a safe plan for reducing or stopping alcohol.

• In summary, if you are looking for ways to treat jaundice, do not view alcohol as a habit that can be "drunk within limits," but rather prioritize stopping alcohol, identifying the cause of jaundice, and treating liver disease if present. The liver is like the body's filtration plant: when the system signals a warning, reducing its workload is a wiser step than continuing to force it to run.

Tip 3: Maintain a healthy weight to protect your liver

Maintain a healthy weight

• Maintaining an appropriate weight helps reduce the risk of fatty liver disease, one of the issues that can affect liver function. However, a healthy weight is not a direct way to treat jaundice. If jaundice has already appeared, the patient still needs to determine the cause and undergo medical evaluation.

• The goal should be to maintain a stable weight through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and limiting factors that cause liver damage rather than losing weight too quickly.

Prioritize liver-friendly foods

• A healthy diet can help manage weight and metabolic health. You should prioritize:

  • Green vegetables and various root vegetables.

  • Fruits in appropriate portions.

  • Whole grains.

  • Lean protein sources such as fish, poultry, eggs, and legumes.

  • Low-fat dairy or dairy products if suitable.

  • Unsaturated fats from fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

• At the same time, it is advisable to limit sugary drinks, foods with added sugar, saturated fats, and ultra-processed foods, especially if you are overweight or have fatty liver disease.

Do not apply a single calorie limit for everyone

• Daily energy needs depend on age, gender, height, weight, activity level, and health status. Therefore, the figure of 1,800–2,200 kcal/day should not be rigidly applied to all individuals trying to lose weight or prevent liver disease.

• If overweight or obese and suffering from fatty liver disease, gradual weight loss according to a suitable plan can help improve liver fat and metabolic factors. Patients should consult a doctor or nutritionist to set appropriate goals.

Exercise regularly

• Regular physical activity helps control weight, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health, and is beneficial for people with fatty liver disease. There's no need to start with overly strenuous exercises; brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or moderate-intensity aerobic activities can be practical choices.

• Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, combined with muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week, as recommended by WHO.

• If you are experiencing jaundice, severe fatigue, or significant liver disease, the level of physical activity should be adjusted according to your health status and your doctor's instructions.

Understand the role of weight in jaundice correctly

• Maintaining a healthy weight primarily helps protect liver health and reduce some risk factors for liver disease, but it cannot replace jaundice treatment when bilirubin is elevated due to hepatitis, biliary obstruction, blood disorders, or other causes.

• If the skin or whites of the eyes have turned yellow, the priority is still to seek examination to find the cause → check bilirubin and liver function → treat the underlying condition if necessary. A healthy lifestyle is the foundation for protecting the liver, but it should not be used as a "master key" for all cases of jaundice.

Tip 4: Control cholesterol to protect your liver

Control cholesterol with a healthy lifestyle

• Maintaining appropriate cholesterol levels benefits cardiovascular and metabolic health, and helps reduce risk factors associated with fatty liver disease. However, cholesterol control is not a direct method for treating jaundice. If jaundice has appeared, the patient still needs to identify the cause.

• Cholesterol can be controlled through diet, exercise, weight management, and medication as prescribed if cardiovascular risk or cholesterol levels require treatment.

Supplement soluble fiber and healthy fats

• Prioritize foods rich in soluble fiber, unsaturated fats, and omega-3s, such as:

  • Oats and whole grains.

  • Lentils, beans, and other legumes.

  • Vegetables and fruits.

  • Fatty fish like salmon.

  • Nuts like almonds.

  • Olive oil and other vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fats.

• Soluble fiber can reduce cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract, while replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats helps improve blood lipid profiles.

Limit saturated and trans fats

• Limit foods high in saturated fats such as fatty meats, butter, some full-fat dairy products, and foods made with large amounts of coconut or palm oil.

• Trans fats can increase LDL-cholesterol and decrease HDL-cholesterol. Industrial foods containing partially hydrogenated oils and frequently fried foods should be limited.

Regular exercise

• Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, helps control weight, and can improve some blood lipid indicators. A realistic goal for adults is at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, combined with muscle-strengthening exercises.

• You can start with easy-to-maintain activities such as brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or aerobics. The most important thing is to maintain consistency rather than overexerting yourself for a short period and then quitting.

Quit smoking if you currently smoke

• Quitting smoking offers many benefits for cardiovascular health and overall well-being. Some studies show that quitting smoking can increase HDL-cholesterol over time, but the more important benefit is reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and many smoking-related illnesses.

When is cholesterol-lowering medication needed?

• If lifestyle changes are not enough to control cholesterol or if the patient is at high cardiovascular risk, the doctor may prescribe statins or other lipid-lowering medications. Do not self-medicate simply because of high cholesterol test results.

• In particular, if you have jaundice or abnormal liver enzymes, inform your doctor before starting or changing medication. The choice of medication should be based on the cause of jaundice, liver function, and individual cardiovascular risk.

Do not confuse cholesterol control with jaundice treatment

• Cholesterol control is part of a lifestyle that protects liver health and metabolic health, but it does not replace jaundice treatment. If jaundice appears, it is crucial to prioritize finding the cause, such as liver disease, biliary obstruction, or other disorders.

• In other words, reducing cholesterol can help protect long-term health, but to treat jaundice, the most important thing is still to identify and correctly treat the cause of elevated bilirubin.

Tip 5: Ensure adequate feeding for infants to reduce jaundice

Ensure infants are fed sufficiently and frequently

• For newborns, adequate feeding is a crucial factor in reducing the risk of hyperbilirubinemia due to insufficient milk intake. When milk intake is low, infants may have fewer bowel movements, and bilirubin is reabsorbed more in the intestines, thus making neonatal jaundice more prominent.

• It's not that breastfed babies are more prone to jaundice. The issue to note is insufficient feeding or inadequate milk intake. The AAP recommends that breastfed infants be fed on demand, at least about 8 times in 24 hours during the first few days after birth.

Monitor whether the infant is feeding enough

• Parents can observe some practical signs:

  • The infant feeds frequently and a swallowing sound can be heard when milk lets down.

  • The number of wet and dirty diapers gradually increases with age.

  • The infant is more alert after feeding and shows signs of satisfaction after eating.

  • Weight is monitored regularly, especially in the first few days after birth.

• If the infant feeds poorly, has difficulty latching, sleeps excessively while feeding, urinates little, or loses significant weight, parents should contact a doctor or lactation consultant. These could be signs that the infant is not receiving enough milk.

Feed breastfed infants 8–12 times a day

• During the first week, many AAP guidelines recommend that breastfed infants be fed approximately 8–12 times in 24 hours. Do not try to extend feeding intervals just to let the baby sleep longer if there is a risk of insufficient milk intake.

• If the infant is too sleepy due to jaundice and difficult to wake for feeding, this is not a time to merely observe at home. Parents should seek medical evaluation as severe jaundice can cause neurological effects.

Do not give infants water to treat jaundice

• Infants should not be given water or sugar water to reduce bilirubin. The AAP recommends against using water or glucose water to prevent or reduce hyperbilirubinemia.

• If the infant is not receiving enough milk, supplementing with expressed breast milk, pasteurized donor milk, or formula should be considered based on the individual infant's condition and in consultation with healthcare professionals. Do not self-supplement merely because the infant's skin appears slightly yellow.

Do not substitute feeding for bilirubin checks

• Adequate feeding helps prevent and manage jaundice, but it cannot replace bilirubin measurements when an infant is at significant risk of hyperbilirubinemia. Skin color alone is not always an accurate reflection of bilirubin levels.

• If jaundice appears within the first 24 hours after birth, if it increases rapidly, if the infant feeds poorly, is difficult to wake, or shows other abnormal signs, seek immediate medical attention. When jaundice treatment is needed, the doctor will decide based on bilirubin levels, the infant's age in hours, gestational age, and risk factors.

In summary, the simplest approach is to: feed early, feed frequently, monitor urine and stool output and weight, and seek medical evaluation if jaundice increases or abnormal signs appear. This is a crucial foundation for reducing the risk of hyperbilirubinemia due to insufficient feeding, but it is not a jaundice treatment for all cases.

Tip 6: Ensure proper feeding for infants to reduce jaundice

Feed breastfed infants 8–12 times a day

• During the first week of life, breastfed infants should be fed approximately 8–12 times in 24 hours. Frequent feeding helps the infant receive enough milk, increasing the frequency of urination and bowel movements, thereby aiding in bilirubin excretion. The AAP states that feeding less than 8 times a day is associated with higher bilirubin levels.

• If the infant sleeps a lot, is difficult to wake for feeding, or frequently misses feedings, parents should assess the infant's feeding ability and milk intake rather than simply assuming the infant is sleeping well. Neonatal jaundice accompanied by poor feeding requires evaluation by a healthcare professional.

If the infant is formula-fed, divide feedings into smaller, more frequent meals

• During the first week, formula-fed infants are typically advised to consume about 30–60 ml every 2–3 hours. This is a reference level; the actual amount of milk needs to be adjusted according to the infant's age, weight, tolerance, and hunger cues.

• Do not force the infant to finish a fixed amount if they show signs of fullness. Conversely, if the infant consistently feeds little, vomits frequently, is difficult to wake, or does not gain weight appropriately, consult a doctor.

Monitor signs of adequate milk intake

• Parents can observe:

  • The infant feeds steadily and a swallowing sound can be heard.

  • The number of wet diapers and bowel movements gradually increases with age.

  • Weight is monitored and does not decrease excessively.

  • The infant is more alert after feeding and responds appropriately.

• If the infant is not feeding enough, urinates little, loses significant weight, or jaundice progressively increases, contact a doctor. Insufficient milk intake can increase the risk of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns.

Do not give infants water to treat jaundice

• Infants should not be given water or sugar water to reduce bilirubin. The AAP recommends against using water or sugar water to prevent or treat hyperbilirubinemia.

• If a breastfed infant is not receiving enough milk, supplementing with expressed breast milk, pasteurized donor milk, or formula may be considered in some cases. This decision should be based on the infant's feeding status, weight, hydration level, and bilirubin levels, rather than routine supplementation.

Adequate feeding does not replace bilirubin checks

• Adequate feeding is an important measure to reduce the risk of jaundice due to insufficient milk intake, but it is not a jaundice treatment for all infants. Some cases still require bilirubin measurement, phototherapy, or specialized treatment.

• If jaundice appears within the first 24 hours after birth, if it darkens rapidly, if the infant feeds poorly, or is difficult to wake, parents should seek early medical attention. Bilirubin levels need to be assessed according to the infant's age in hours and risk factors, not just based on skin color by eye.

References

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3. Hindman NM, Arif-Tiwari H, Kamel IR, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Jaundice. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2019;16(5S):S126–S140.
4. Neuberger J, Patel J, Caldwell H, et al. Guidelines on the Use of Liver Biopsy in Clinical Practice from the British Society of Gastroenterology, the Royal College of Radiologists and the Royal College of Pathology. Gut. 2020;69(8):1382–1403.
5. Kemper AR, Newman TB, Slaughter JL, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline Revision: Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation. Pediatrics. 2022;150(3):e2022058859.
6. Slaughter JL, Kemper AR, Newman TB, et al. Technical Report: Diagnosis and Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation. Pediatrics. 2022;150(3):e2022058865.
7. American Academy of Pediatrics. Hyperbilirubinemia: Clinical Guidance for the Diagnosis and Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in Newborns. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2022.
8. World Health Organization. Hepatitis: Overview and Global Health Information. World Health Organization. 2026.
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Content edited by: Rowan Hudson Le.

Information consulted and verified by expert: Matthew Turner.