Liver dysfunction occurs when the liver fails to adequately perform essential functions such as metabolizing nutrients, synthesizing proteins, eliminating toxins, and producing bile to aid digestion.

According to Master, Doctor, Specialist Level I Doan Hoang Long of the Gastroenterology Department, Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery Center, Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM, numerous factors contribute to liver dysfunction, including diet, lifestyle, underlying medical conditions, and age. Precise identification of the cause enables doctors to prescribe suitable and more effective treatment.

Doctor Hoang Long advises a patient. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital.

Doctor Hoang Long advises a patient. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital.

Several potential causes of liver dysfunction are outlined below.

Infections and inflammation

Hepatitis virus infection is a primary cause of liver damage. Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E, upon entering the body, attack liver cells, leading to inflammation, necrosis, and reduced liver function. Without timely detection and treatment, viral hepatitis can advance to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

Beyond viruses, certain bacteria and parasites, such as amoebas and liver flukes, can cause hepatitis and liver abscesses, severely impacting the liver's structure and function.

Unhealthy dietary habits

Consuming high amounts of saturated fats, refined sugars, fried foods, fast food, and alcohol overworks the liver, forcing it to metabolize and eliminate excess toxins. Prolonged exposure leads to fat accumulation, resulting in fatty liver, inflammation, and liver dysfunction. Diets deficient in green vegetables, fruits, or essential micronutrients like B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium, compromise the liver's antioxidant and detoxification capacities.

Unhealthy lifestyle choices

Alcohol, primarily metabolized in the liver, produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that can destroy liver cells and contribute to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Smoking reduces blood oxygen levels, compelling the liver to work harder to process toxins. Furthermore, chronic stress and persistent sleep deprivation disrupt metabolism, impeding liver cell regeneration.

Unprescribed medication use

Taking medications without a doctor's prescription, particularly painkillers and fever reducers containing paracetamol, and antibiotics, can generate toxic byproducts during metabolism, damaging liver cells. The unsupervised use of dietary supplements, traditional Eastern medicine, or unverified drugs can also lead to severe liver damage.

Age and underlying health conditions

As individuals age, the regenerative capacity of liver cells and blood flow through the liver diminish, impairing its ability to metabolize and eliminate toxins. Older adults frequently manage multiple chronic conditions, often requiring prolonged medication, which places significant stress on the liver and increases susceptibility to dysfunction. Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, thyroid disease, gallstones, and cardiovascular disease can all negatively impact the liver.

Liver dysfunction often progresses silently, presenting few symptoms in its early stages. As the condition advances, patients may develop signs such as persistent fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice, yellow eyes, discomfort in the upper right abdomen, abdominal bloating, edema, dark urine, or pale stools.

Doctor Long emphasizes that untreated liver dysfunction can lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancer, and dangerous complications such as coagulation disorders, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Regular annual health check-ups are crucial for early detection of abnormalities and prevention of severe complications.

Thao Nhi