
KEY QUESTIONS
The liver can heal itself from alcohol abuse by
developing new liver cells after alcohol misuse.
Fibrosis reduces the liver's ability to regenerate, with 35% of alcoholics developing liver disease as a result [1].
Liver Recovery Following Alcohol Abuse At A Cellular Level
Magnesium Levels
Magnesium levels rise during liver recovery due to:
Every 100mg increase in magnesium into the liver due to liver recovery causes a 49% decrease in the risk of alcohol related liver disease mortality [3].
Golgi Apparatus
During liver recovery, the Golgi apparatus counteracts the fatty degeneration of cells and slows the process of fatty liver disease [4].
Endocytosis
Endocytosis decreases by up to 40% in fatty liver disease, but increases fully in recovery [5].
Hepatic Autophagy
Hepatic autophagy removes up to 40% of damaged organelles, lipids and proteins in the liver during recovery [6].
Liver Recovery Following Alcohol Abuse At A Physical Level
Weight Loss
When the liver recovers it is able to process fats and remove them from the body, causing weight loss [7].
Skin Changes
During liver recovery, skin conditions begin to improve, such as:
Coordination and Motor Function
There is a 35% improvement in motor function and memory of patients after 1 year of cellular liver recovery [8].
Liver Recovery Following Alcohol Abuse At A Psycho-Social Level
Denial
Physical evidence of alcoholism such as liver diseases stops an alcoholic from denying alcoholism.
Increased Sociability
Recovering from physically visible skin conditions such as jaundice allows the alcoholic to socialise more and be less self conscious about their appearance.
Less Secrecy
After the liver has physically recovered, alcoholism has typically been addressed, and there is no longer need for the alcoholic to be secretly drinking.
Conditions For Liver Healing
Ideal Conditions For Healing The Liver
Sub-Optimal Conditions For Healing The Liver
How Drinking Patterns Influence The Liver's Ability To Recovery From Alcohol Abuse
Non Drinkers | Social Drinking | Binge Drinking | Chronic Alcoholism | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Liver Damage | 0% | +23.27% | +50% | |
Recovery Time | 0 Hours | 6-72 hours | 3-6 months |
How The Alcoholic Can Help The Liver Recover From Alcohol Abuse
Liver Injury And Recovery In Animals
Testing of liver injury in rodents demonstrates differences in liver injury and healing between humans and animals; as rodents have a 5 times faster metabolic rate leading to a lower blood alcohol concentration [18].
Testing found that the rodent liver develops steatosis, cirrhosis and cell death in the same way as the human liver, with abstinence from alcohol being the only way to reduce the damage [19].
Groups At-Risk Of Reduced Liver Recovery Following Alcohol Abuse
IV Drug Use
25% of IV drug users contract hepatitis C, preventing liver recovery [20].
Genetics
Inherited diseases such as hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease or cystic fibrosis can cause up to a 20% increased risk of liver disease [21].
Hepatitis
Hepatitis causes the death of cells, leading to liver hepatomegaly in 60% of sufferers [22].
Primary Biliary Cholangitis
PBC causes the liver to fail as the body attacks its own bile ducts [23].
When The Liver Cannot Heal Itself From Alcohol Abuse
24.58% of chronic drinkers are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis, that the liver cannot heal itself from [24].
Alcohol abuse causes a 5.2% increased risk of death by liver cancer in those consuming more than 125g of ethanol per day [25].
Complications When Healing The Liver Following Alcohol Abuse
Pre-Existing Illnesses
Viruses that deplete the liver's ability to heal itself are:
Age
In those 65 and over, liver volume decreases by 20-40% and blood volume decreases by 35%, decreasing the liver's ability to heal itself following chronic alcohol abuse and liver diseases [29].
When It Looks Like Liver Healing From Alcoholism, But Isn't
Clearer Thinking | Higher Energy Levels | Improved Appetite | Improved Jaundice | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stopping certain medications | No | Yes | Yes | |
Unblocked bile ducts | No | No | Yes | Yes [32] |
Hepatitis Healing | Yes | No | Store Name | Yes [33] |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Liver healing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes [34] |