Liver Failure and Eating Disorders
Ripple Impact of Disordered Eating can be Linked to Cirrhosis
May 1, 2009
Though the self-healing property of the liver is remarkable, the bottom line is, disordered eating will cause extensive damage, damage that might not be healed, ultimately leading to liver failure and consequently, death. For instance, dehydration, a significant lack of water, as well as the cessation of the menses can cause the buildup of iron within the liver. This is harmful to the organ.
Malnutrition and Liver Failure
Weight loss, anorexia and bulimia can be red flags indicating malnutrition. Malnutrition can cause cirrhosis. When the liver develops scar tissue and enough scar tissue that it cannot function properly, than cirrhosis results and from that point liver failure is imminent.
"The word malnutrition indicates deficiency for energy, protein and micronutrients (e.g. vitamin A, iodine and iron) either singularly or in combination."
What is the Liver?
An abdominal organ, the liver is responsible for the breakdown of nutrients and the detoxification of harmful substances. Additionally, it "secretes bile and functions in [the] metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A...and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes."
Besides bile, the liver produces other digestive juices which are stored by the gallbladder until needed by other digestion functioning organs such as the intestines and pancreas.
What is an Inflamed Liver?
Problems with the liver will probably begin with an inflammation. The bearer of an inflamed liver may or may not feel any discomfort. Then again, the liver may become larger than its normal size and there may be some tenderness felt in the area. If the inflammation is not addressed and continues over time, scarring (fibrosis) may follow. Once scarred, this tissue replaces the normal, healthy liver tissue. This scarred tissue cannot function as normal liver tissue does, which means, blood may not be able to travel through it. Additionally, the healthy parts of the liver may have to work harder to compensate for the lost or dysfunctional liver tissue.
If the scarring is allowed to continue, enough will develop to create a condition known as cirrhosis. At this stage, the liver no longer has the ability to heal itself.
Liver Cancer
When cirrhosis reaches a critical enough level, this can set the stage for the onset of liver cancer. Some indicators of this may be:
- Skin and eyes take on a yellow tinge known as jaundice (bile coloration in the bloodstream);
- Urine may also become dark because bile excreted via the kidney;
- High levels of bilirubin or the bile coloration may be symptomatic of other problems within the liver;
- An intense itchy sensation for the skin;
- Because blood vessels will not be able to pass through the liver, a build up of them can occur, leading them to explode;
- Type II Diabetes may develop; and,
- The brain can be subject to an abundance of toxins leading to severe disturbances of mental functioning, if not coma and death.
Bleeding
The liver manufactures substances/proteins to aid in clotting. When the liver can no longer manufacture these, bleeding can occur internally and externally. Enough bleeding can occur to become fatal.
The liver is one of the largest and complex organs of the human body. Malnutrition caused by eating disorders can lead to liver failure.
Related Articles:
Dehydration and Eating Disorders
Osteoporosis and Eating Disorders
Note to the Reader: The information contained within this article is not designed to treat or diagnose a condition. If there are concerns, please seek professional help.
Sources
Digestive.niddk.nih.gov
Medicinenet.com
Ndt.oxfordjournals.org
Something-fishy.org
Umm.edu
Wordnetweb.princeton.edu
