The liver is the largest gland in the human organism. It is also a vital organ, as liver metabolism is at the center of the entire metabolism.
What is liver metabolism?
The liver is the largest gland in the human organism. It is also a vital organ, as liver metabolism is at the center of the entire metabolism. Liver metabolism plays an essential role not only in detoxifying the blood. The liver is also capable of storing nutrients contained in the blood. Thus, in the event of a deficiency, the affected cells can be resupplied with nutrients via the blood. Consequently, the liver controls the metabolism of glucose, proteins as well as fats. If the body is undersupplied with glucose, for example, the liver breaks down the glycogen stores and releases glucose into the blood. Previously, glucose was converted into glycogen and stored. Vitamins can also be stored by the liver if the body does not need them immediately.
Function and task
Without the liver, metabolism in the human body could not run properly. For example, when blood sugar levels drop, the liver can release glucose (dextrose) back into the blood. Likewise, the liver makes those clotting factors that are needed in injuries to allow the blood to clot. If inflammation occurs in the body, the liver can produce C-reactive protein (CRP). Furthermore, the metabolic organ produces proteins that are needed for the transport of fats and hormones in the blood. The liver also produces the body’s own cholesterol, which is needed for the formation of bile. The liver produces one liter of bile per day. Only through this can the fats in food be digested. In addition to its function as a metabolic organ, the liver is also a very important detoxification organ. During metabolism, toxic substances are constantly produced in the organism, which have to be broken down. The liver converts these into harmless substances. For example, toxic ammonia becomes urea, which is no longer a danger to the body. Its best-known function is probably the breakdown of alcohol. For every ten kilograms of body weight, the liver manages to convert 1 gram of alcohol into non-toxic acetic acid. Ultimately, however, the breakdown of alcohol produces fat, which means that excessive alcohol consumption leads to a higher fat content in the body. In addition, the liver can also filter substances from the blood. These include hormones, old or defective cells and bacteria. In the process, water-insoluble substances are excreted via the intestines and water-soluble substances via the blood, kidneys and finally the urine. For example, medications that have fulfilled their function are passed out of the body in this way. From the seventh month of pregnancy, the liver is also responsible for blood formation in the fetus. This shows how diverse and vital liver metabolism is.
Diseases and ailments
If the liver is supplied with more pollutants than it can break down, this can lead to what is known as fatty liver. When the amount of pollutants is increased, the liver requires almost all of the oxygen in the blood. From this point on, fat burning is severely restricted, which is why the fat is stored in the liver. This increases the size of the detoxification organ and may occasionally cause a feeling of pressure in the right upper abdomen at the costal arch. However, most patients do not usually feel any of this. A fatty liver occurs mainly in cases of obesity, alcohol addiction or diabetes. Sometimes it can also occur during pregnancy. In the case of fatty liver, liver function is not yet impaired, which is why weight reduction, alcohol withdrawal and a low-carbohydrate diet can lead to a reduction in fatty liver. Furthermore, there are various forms of liver inflammation (hepatitis). The forms and causes are varied, but the inflammations are most often transmitted by viruses. A distinction is made between hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Initially, flu-like symptoms occur in such a disease, which are accompanied by pain under the right costal arch. In the further course, jaundice often develops, in which the eyeballs and the skin show a yellowish hue. The inflammation of the liver also results in impaired bile production, which is why the feces are discolored and the urine becomes darker.Years of alcohol or drug abuse or inflammation of the liver can end in cirrhosis. At this stage, connective tissue develops in place of the dead glandular tissue, permanently damaging liver function. In cirrhosis of the liver, patients often suffer from fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms. Similarly, hormonal imbalance may occur. Since blood flow is also impaired, abdominal dropsy, hemorrhoids and varicose veins in the abdomen and esophagus may also occur. Varicose veins in the esophagus can sometimes lead to fatal bleeding. Here, too, patients often experience a feeling of pressure in the lower right ribcage and the skin develops “leathery skin” signs. Since the central nervous system is also affected, patients may experience inner restlessness, memory problems and even a dangerous hepatic coma in the course of liver cirrhosis. This liver disease is not curable and increases the risk of liver cancer. Liver cancer is particularly insidious because the symptoms usually appear very late. Approximately 6000 people are diagnosed with it each year throughout Germany.
