The Liver's Role in Digestion: Bile, Metabolism & Detoxification

The liver is a digestive powerhouse:

• Bile production: Synthesizes bile (stored in gallbladder) to emulsify fats, enabling enzymatic digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
• Metabolic hub: Converts glucose ↔ glycogen, deaminates amino acids, oxidizes fatty acids, synthesizes cholesterol/lipoproteins.
• Detoxification: Metabolizes drugs, alcohol, toxins; excretes via bile or urine.
• Nutrient storage: Glycogen, vitamins (A, D, B12), iron, copper.

Liver dysfunction impairs digestion, metabolism, and systemic homeostasis.