leverfunksjonspåvirkning

The liver is a large, reddish-brown organ located in the upper right abdomen. It is one of the body's central metabolic hubs and performs a wide range of functions that support digestion, metabolism, detoxification, immune defense, and systemic homeostasis.

Key roles include metabolic processing, detoxification, bile production, protein synthesis and storage, and immune regulation. In metabolism, hepatocytes manage carbohydrate, protein, and lipid processing: maintaining blood glucose through glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis; synthesizing and exporting plasma proteins such as albumin and clotting factors; and producing lipoproteins and cholesterol. The liver detoxifies substances via enzymatic reactions, including Phase I and Phase II processes driven by cytochrome P450 enzymes, rendering drugs and toxins easier to eliminate, and converting ammonia to urea. Bile production involves synthesizing bile acids that emulsify fats; bile is transported through ducts to the intestine and stored in the gallbladder when not needed. The liver stores vitamins and minerals, glycogen, and iron, and it generates growth factors such as IGF-1 and regulatory proteins like hepcidin. Immune functions include Kupffer cells that clear bacteria and debris from portal blood.

The liver receives blood from the hepatic artery and portal vein, acting as a filtration and processing center for nutrient-rich blood. Clinically, liver function is commonly assessed with blood tests measuring enzymes such as ALT and AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and coagulation factors. Hepatic disease—such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver failure—can disrupt many of these processes.