Liver and Gut connection: How the liver and digestion system work together

The liver is an essential organ of the body that is involved in hundreds of vital functions. Some of these vital functions include digesting food, removing waste products, regulating blood sugar levels, and ridding the body of toxic substances. In the body, the liver is located just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. It is below the diaphragm, yet sits above of the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. It weighs about 3 pounds.

The liver functions differently than other organs due to its connectors, also known as canals, which carry the bile and blood. The liver filters the blood in the body and breaks down toxic materials, which include alcohol and drugs. Blood goes from the digestive system through the portal vein. This connects the gut and liver.  Some nutrients can circulate back in the bloodstream to other organs. The other toxins are detoxified, cleaned out and sent to elimination through urine. The liver also excretes a product called bile, which helps carry away waste products from the liver. Bile breaks down fat in the small intestine during digestion. It enters the intestine and leaves the body in the form of feces. The liver and the gut are directly connected. 

The Gut-Liver Connection

The gut and the liver are anatomically and physiologically connected, and this “gut–liver axis” communicates through the portal vein. The portal vein is the direct outflow from the intestine, so when the intestinal barrier is damaged and shows increased accessibility, the liver is exposed to toxic factors from the intestine and intestinal bacteria. When ”bad” bacteria out-number “good” bacteria in your microbiome, this is known as dysbiosis. Dysbiosis can cause many issues that can trigger liver diseases, and is a growing form of research. Chronic liver diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality all around the world. Dysfunction of the gut barrier, is more commonly known as “leaky gut”. The intestinal lining in the gut covers more than 4,000 square feet of surface area. When working properly, it forms a tight barrier that controls what gets absorbed into the bloodstream. An unhealthy gut lining may have openings that are “large enough” to allow partially digested food, toxins, and bugs to penetrate the tissues beneath it. This may trigger inflammation and changes in the gut (normal bacteria) that could lead to problems within the digestive tract and beyond. An increased bacterial transportation into the liver through the gut–liver axis, likely plays crucial roles in how liver disease develops and continues progressing. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was linked to a leaky gut through the weakening of the intestinal barrier. Once homeostasis is disrupted in the microbiome, metabolites and components derived from the gut transfer to the liver, producing pathologic effects and causing inflammation and damage to the liver.  Alcohol and/or a high fat diet are common factors which can weaken the gut barrier. This can assist in serious liver diseases, such as hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer. In alcoholic liver disease, the main characteristic is an increased gut permeability from the direct toxic effect of alcohol on the epithelial cells in the GI tract. This weakening of the intestinal barrier results in a large increase of endotoxin plasma levels that may cause hepatic (liver) injury. The susceptibility to alcoholic liver disease may depend on the composition of the gut microbiota. This hypothesis is supported by animal studies showing the acceleration of alcohol-induced inflammation in germ-free mice after transplantation of gut microbiota from alcoholic patients [1].

Probiotics

With this in mind, the study of probiotics on alcoholic liver disease is growing. The potential beneficial effects of probiotics include (1) quantitative and qualitative improvement of gut microbiota composition (increase in Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, increase in gut microbiota diversity); (2) improvement of liver function tests; (3) strengthening of gut-barrier permeability; (4) decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and bacterial endotoxin levels in the blood; and (5) histologic improvement of liver decline and hepatic inflammation [1].

When the liver is unable to function properly, overall health can decline. With the liver and gut being directly connected, issues with gut bacteria can take a toll on the liver. These studies are just a couple of examples of how gut health can impact these liver diseases. 

If you want to learn more information on this topic, there is The Liver and Gallbladder Rescue Summit. Here we will help you understand how to maximize your liver and gallbladder function, symptoms and warning signs of liver and gallbladder issues, alternative and conventional approaches to liver health, best herbs and essential oils for cleansing, proactive strategies to help avoid gallbladder surgery, what to do if your gallbladder has been removed, and many more topics. All reasons not to miss the Liver and Gallbladder Rescue Summit! You can register online for free from March 14-20, 2022 HERE. 

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165386/
2. https://columbiasurgery.org/liver/liver-and-its-functions
3. https://justthrivehealth.com/blogs/blog/liver-health-gut-health-how-rebalancing-your-microbiome-can-help-your-liver-thrive
4. https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hep4.1331#:~:text=The%20intestinal%20tract%20and%20the,and%20progression%20of%20liver%20diseases
5. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/liver-anatomy-and-functions