• The liver can be considered a factory; and among its many functions include the following:

  • production of bile that is required in the digestion of food, in particular fats;
  • storing of the extra glucose or sugar in the body into stored glycogen in liver cells; and then converting it back into glucose when the the body needs it for energy;
  • production of blood clotting factors;
  • production of amino acids, including those used to help fight infection;
  • the processing and storage of iron necessary for red blood cell production;
  • manufacture of cholesterol and other chemicals required for fat transport;
  • conversion of waste products of body metabolism into urea that is excreted in the urine; and
  • metabolizating medications into their active ingredient in the body.

What diseases affect the liver?

• The most common liver diseases are various types of acute hepatitis, chronic (long duration) hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis , and cancer. Cancers that affect the liver are most commonly metastatic cancers that have spread via the bloodstream to the liver from other sites in the body. However, primary cancers (cancers that arise in the liver) can also occur. The most common type of primary liver cancers are known as hepatocellular carcinomas. Viruses, drugs, and alcohol, as well as metabolic, immune system, and genetic abnormalities are the common causes of many liver diseases. But note that, contrary to a popular misconception, alcohol is only one of the many causes of liver disease. Moreover, sometimes the cause of the liver disease is not known.

How do liver diseases cause symptoms?

Acute and chronic liver diseases can interfere with the functions of the liver and thereby cause symptoms. However, the liver has a hefty reserve capacity. In other words, it usually takes substantial damage to the liver before a disease interferes with the functions of the liver and causes symptoms. Examples of such symptoms are:

• Jaundice (yellow skin) that can occur when the liver is unable to properly metabolize or secrete the yellow pigment bilirubin in bile
• Bleeding or easy bruising that can occur when the liver is unable to make enough of the normal blood clotting proteins
• Swelling of the legs with fluid (edema) that can occur when the liver is unable to make enough albumin and the serum albumin gets too low
• Fatigue that is of unknown cause, but may be related to some impaired metabolic function of the liver
  

What else is important about the liver?

There's one other interesting point about this remarkable organ. The liver has an extraordinary capacity to regenerate (reproduce itself). For example, damage the liver, and it will soon regenerate in an attempt to restore its functions. Cut out a part of the liver, and it likewise will grow back (regenerate) rapidly. In fact, when a person donates a part of her or his liver for transplantation, much of the part that is removed will soon grow back.