1.9K Reviews    |    4.7 Star Rating    |    20+ years of experience    |    72k+ Patients Treated

The Connection Between Liver Function and Digestive Health

Learn to live life without liver. Discover the benefits of having a healthy liver to help digest and absorb nutrients and feel better, and see how to keep the liver healthy.

Texas Medical Board
Harris County Medical Society
American College of Gastroenterology
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Memorial hermann
Houston Methodist leading Medicine
HCA Houston Healthcare
Bharat Pothuri

The Relationship between Hepatic functions and the digestive system

Liver is a big part in digestion. It assists in the digestion of food, it absorbs the nutrients and eliminates toxins. A good liver implies better digestion. Digestion may also be impaired in case your liver is weak. This guide is clear and easy to read, exposing this connection.

The support of the Liver in the process of digestion

The liver aids digestion in four aspects:

Disease Symptoms What Happens When the liver is not working well

In case of weak liver, there might be some digestion problems:

1. Digestive Upsets

Fatty foods can lead to gas and bloating due to lack of sufficient bile. After dinner you can be uncomfortable.

2. Irregular Bowels

Weak liver may result in constipation or diarrhea. The bowel changes frequently without an apparent cause.

3. Food Sensitivities

Some of the food chemicals may not be removed by your liver. You can respond to food that you tolerated.

4. Low Energy

When the liver is not able to release some of the stored nutrients, then you might become tired. Due to poor digestion, your body is low in energy.

5. Nausea & Loss of Appetite

A liver that is stressed makes you feel ill or it makes you eat less.

These issues are able to destroy your day to day life. They often happen together.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Be on the watch of these signs in the event of imagining a weakness in your liver or your digestion:

Such symptoms may indication that your liver is not functioning. And in case of more than one, consult the doctor.

Diseases That Crippling to Liver and To the Digestion

The following are some of the liver complications that can easily hit digestion:

1. Fatty Liver Disease

Fat builds up in the liver. This inflammation has the ability to prevent the liver to produce bile. It can also disrupt digestion and bring about digestive discomfort.

2. Hepatitis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, which is brought about by viruses or toxins. It compromises the bile production and digestion. This tends to cause nausea, lack of appetite and indigestion.

3. Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis refers to the scar replacing the normal liver tissue. This highly restricts liver activities such as the production of bile and detoxification. Consequently, there is still the problem of digestive problems and aggravation.

The Diagnosis of these Issues by Doctors

In case of the persistence of liver or digestion issues, doctors can employ:

  1. Physical Exam
    They examine your stomach to see whether it is swollen or not.
  2. Blood Tests
    These are substance filtration and liver of the checks.
  3. Imaging Tests
    The presence of structure problems is detected by ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
  4. Fibroscan
    Measures liver hardness a quality of fat or scar tissue.
  5. Liver Biopsy
    Any damage or disease is demonstrated in a small piece of tissues.

These examinations are used to determine whether your liver is causing your digestion problem.

How to make the Liver and Digestion better

The following are the ways of supporting your liver and digestive system:

1. Eat Whole, Fresh Foods

Emphasize on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-caliber proteins. Eat less processed, sweet food, and fried food.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Water aids the purging of your liver getting rid of toxins and aids in digestion. Drink 8-10 cups per day.

3. Reduce or Quit Alcoholic Drinking

Alcohol stresses your liver. Light alcohol consumption or complete abstinence aids in healing your liver. This also aids digestion.

4. Keep a Healthy Weight

Even a small weight loss causes a decrease on your liver. This has the potential of reversing the damage to the liver at early stages. It also helps digestion.

5. Move Every Day

Have a target of 30 minutes of physical activity such as walking or yoga. Exercise enhances the circulation as well as digestion.

6. Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Wear rubber gloves during the use of solvents or cleaners. Do not breathe in fumes of chemicals.

7. Take Medicines Carefully

Take medications that affect the liver in accordance. Do not go on a spurt in using painkillers and other medications without consulting the doctor.

8. Store Food Properly

Store nuts, grains and spices in airtight containers. This is in order to avoid mold that may be detrimental to your liver.

Gentle Natural Aids

These are safe products that we can recommend to help your liver and digestion:

In case liver or digestion issues do not disappear, the doctors can resort to:

Never take supplements without consulting your doctor particularly when taking other medication.

In case of an immediate visit to a doctor

Consult a doctor if you have:

Early diagnosis is key. Early management of liver problems can bring about avoiding of digestive problems in the long run.

Final Thoughts

When a liver is healthy it will digest well, maintain energy and absorption of nutrients. The liver:

As the liver is put to the test, so is digestion. But a few changes can help. Consume raw and green food, drink water, exercise, moderate on alcohol and store foods. Enhance natural supplements such as milk thistle or probiotics under the advice of a physician.

In case of persistence of the symptoms, do not wait see a doctor. Preservation of your liver is one of the best ways to ensure that the digestion and your health is good in future.

Bharat Pothuri

About the Author

Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.

Call Us 832-632-4070 Schedule Now Click Here Text Us 832-632-4070

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of the liver in digestion?

The liver secretes bile that aids in digesting fats and the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. It also digests the nutrients which are taken up in the intestines.

And what is bile, and why is it so important?

The bile is a liquid secreted by the liver and accumulated in the gallbladder. It helps in digestion because it emulsifies fats to make them easier to digest and absorb.

Are there liver problems that can lead to digestive problems?

Yes. In cases where the liver is not performing its duty, it may cause bloating, nausea, poor digestion of fats and bowel movements.

What is the influence of fatty liver disease on digestion?

Fatty liver may disrupt the production and flow of the bile resulting in poor digestion of fats, post meal discomfort, and deficiency of nutrients.

Why do liver disease patients get hungry easily?

The enlarged liver or amassing of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) is likely to destroy the size of the stomach, which causes premature satiety and loss of appetite.

Is there an influence of liver functioning on gut bacteria?

Yes. Hepatic dysfunction could disrupt gut microbial balance, making it more inflammatory and digesting and the health of the gut as a whole.

What are some typical gastrointestinal manifestations of liver disease?

The most frequent one is bloating, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, pale stools, and dark urine.

Would liver disease lead to a deficiency of nutrients?

Yes. The absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K, which are essential to the immunity, bone strength and blood coagulation, is impaired by the lack of the bile.

Why should I take care of my liver to have better digestion?

Have healthy dietary practices consisting of fibers, healthy fats and antioxidants. Limit the amount of alcohol intake, keep hydrated and have a normal weight.

At what point do I discuss the digestive symptoms related to liver with a doctor?

In case of sudden bloating without any known cause, fatigue, yellowish color of the skin or alterations in the stool or urine, see your medical practitioner.

Related Blogs