Alcohol is metabolised by the liver to form products that may be toxic to the hepatocytes
- Alcohol consumption also reduces cellular antioxidant activity, reducing the liver’s capacity for detoxification
Over time, healthy liver cells are replaced by damaged cells, which reduces the livers ability to:
- Metabolise the body’s supply of carbohydrates, fats and proteins
- Produce bile and recycle red blood cells
- Transport materials around the body (blood flow becomes blocked to and from the liver)
Long term alcohol abuse will result in three primary effects upon the liver:
- Inflammation – swelling of damaged liver tissue causes the liver to become enlarged
- Fat accumulation – there is a build up of fatty deposits in place of normal tissue, blocking blood flow
- Cirrhosis – Scar tissue is created by the deposition of collagen where tissue is damaged
Stages of Liver Damage from Excessive Alcohol Consumption
