Liver: metabolic functions

https://doi.org/10.1383/anes.2006.7.2.51Get rights and content

Abstract

The liver is the major metabolic organ in the body. It synthesizes bile, which is important in the absorption of fat. The liver is also important in the catabolism of haemoglobin. It has a major role in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, it acts as a carbohydrate store or buffer, evening out potential changes in blood glucose arising from the feeding-fasting cycle. It synthesizes proteins, but under stress or in times of shortage it synthesizes glucose from the gluconeogenic precursors – amino acids, glycerol and lactate. With stress it synthesizes ‘acute phase proteins’. It acts as a fat store and derives its energy from oxidation of fat and protein rather than carbohydrate. It metabolises xenobiotics (drugs and plant products), usually in two stages. The first stage, phase I, inactivates the substance, phase II conjugates the product with a water-soluble molecule that is either excreted in the urine or the bile.

FURTHER READING (2)

  • KN Frayn

    Metabolic regulation. A human perspective

    (1996)
  • WF Ganong

    Review of medical physiology

    (1999)

Cited by (22)

  • A GC–MS-based untargeted metabolomics approach for comprehensive metabolic profiling of vancomycin-induced toxicity in mice

    2022, Heliyon
    Citation Excerpt :

    Therefore, it was speculated that VCM administration induced a redox imbalance in the liver, kidney, and cerebral cortex. As amino acids are mainly metabolized in the liver [24], the dysregulations of alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, glycine serine and threonine metabolism, and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis may lead to liver injury in this study. In addition, liver dysfunction induced the urea synthesis disrupted, resulting in elevated urea in the liver and lung.

  • Loss of tyrosine catabolic enzyme HPD promotes glutamine anaplerosis through mTOR signaling in liver cancer

    2021, Cell Reports
    Citation Excerpt :

    Despite the importance of metabolic reprogramming in cancer development, only a handful of molecular inhibitors targeting metabolic aberrations in cancer have attained satisfactory outcomes in clinical trials and have been approved by the FDA for clinical use (Mullard, 2017; Liu et al., 2020). The liver is one of the most metabolically active organs in our body and has critical roles in regulating different metabolic processes (Campbell, 2006). Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic reprogramming of glucose, glutamine, and fatty acids contributes to HCC development and progression (Zhu et al., 2020).

  • Involvement of endocannabinoid system, inflammation and apoptosis in diabetes induced liver injury: Role of 5-HT3 receptor antagonist

    2020, International Immunopharmacology
    Citation Excerpt :

    It is a modifiable risk factor affecting the development of organ damage including liver disease [2] which is manifested by hepatomegaly, abdominal pain, and elevated serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities [3]. The liver is the major metabolic organ whose role in regulating carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism has been established [4]. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation play a major role in liver damage of diabetic condition [5].

  • A histomorphometric study on the hepatoprotective effects of a green rooibos extract in a diet-induced obese rat model

    2019, Acta Histochemica
    Citation Excerpt :

    In obesity, the influx of dietary carbohydrates and fat may lead to increased oxidative stress resulting in significant strain on glucose and lipid balance maintained by the liver (Hanhineva et al., 2010). The liver plays a major role in glucose homeostasis and storage (via glycogenesis) as well as glucose secretion (via glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis); (Campbell, 2006; Hanhineva et al., 2010). Glucose balance is controlled by insulin, however, excess glucose (hyperglycaemia) and the development of peripheral insulin resistance leads to hyperinsulinemia.

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text