The liver plays a vital role in detoxification, especially in alcohol metabolism. Chronic alcohol abuse overburdens liver mechanisms and can lead to significant liver and kidney diseases.
The liver performs critical functions, including the breakdown of toxic substances through a process called drug metabolism. The metabolites formed during the metabolism are less harmful than the original substances, which is essential for detoxification. Chronic alcohol consumption makes the liver work harder to break down alcohol, which can lead to liver damage or diseases such as cirrhosis. Additionally, when the liver is compromised, it affects the kidneys' ability to remove wastes, potentially resulting in kidney dysfunction.
The liver also has other functions such as storing glucose and fats, producing bile, and making blood clotting proteins.
Specifically, the breakdown of alcohol happens predominantly through the alcohol dehydrogenase system, where 80-90% of alcohol is processed. Alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that is immediately degraded by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase into acetate to prevent liver damage. However, chronic alcohol abuse can overload these pathways, leading to an accumulation of toxic substances that cause liver and kidney diseases.