The liver is the body’s largest internal organ and plays an important role in metabolism – the way cells change food into energy after food is digested and absorbed into the blood. The functions of liver include:
• Taking up, storing, and processing nutrients from food—including fat, sugar, and protein—and delivering them to the rest of the body when needed
• Making new proteins, such as clotting factors and immune factors
• Producing bile, which helps the body absorb fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins
• Removing waste products the kidneys cannot remove, such as fats, cholesterol, toxins, and medications
Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and is unable to function normally due to chronic, or long lasting, injury. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and partially blocks the flow of blood through the liver.