What does liver health mean, and why does it matter?

Published Jan. 6, 2026

Much of what your body does goes unnoticed until a small change brings it to your attention. Behind the scenes, your liver is a powerhouse of activity, taking on more than 500 functions that help support your overall health.¹

But when your liver starts to struggle, the early signs can be easy to miss.²

What does the liver do?

Your liver handles hundreds of tasks, but some of its primary roles are filtering and detoxifying your blood. At any moment, the liver contains about 13% of your body’s total blood supply. More than a liter of blood moves through the liver every minute—roughly 22 gallons an hour and more than 250 gallons each day.¹ This constant flow allows your liver to process nutrients, medications, and toxins before that blood circulates to the rest of your body. Your liver also¹,²

• Produces bile, a fluid that helps digest fats
• Makes cholesterol
• Stores and releases glucose to help keep blood sugar levels steady
• Processes medications
• Breaks down alcohol and other toxins
• Clears blood of bacteria and other harmful substances
• Helps regulate hormone levels
• Processes fats, protein, and carbohydrates
• Removes bilirubin
• Stores vitamins, minerals, and iron for future use

The liver is considered a vital organ because it’s essential for survival. It’s the body’s largest internal organ, weighing about 3 pounds, and one of the few that can regenerate after injury. But while your liver works hard to protect your health, it isn’t invincible. Certain diseases, toxins, and long-term exposures can damage it beyond repair.²

What are albumin and bilirubin and what role do they play in liver health?

Albumin is a protein made by your liver, and it’s the main protein found in your blood plasma. It helps carry vitamins, hormones, enzymes, and other substances throughout your body. Albumin also helps keep fluid inside your blood vessels. Without enough albumin, fluid can leak out and build up in parts of your body, causing edema (swelling). Because only the liver makes albumin, the amount of albumin in your blood reflects how well your liver is functioning.³

Bilirubin is a yellowish waste product made when red blood cells break down. As these cells reach the end of their life cycle, they break apart and release bilirubin into the bloodstream. Bilirubin then travels to the liver, where it’s processed and prepared for removal. If this process isn’t working properly, bilirubin can build up in the blood and cause jaundice, making the skin and eyes look yellow. The amount of bilirubin in your blood reflects how well your liver is functioning and removing this waste.⁴

What is liver disease, and what causes it?

Because your liver is constantly working, it can be affected by anything that puts extra strain on its cells. When those cells are irritated or injured again and again, the liver can’t keep up with repairs. Over time, this ongoing inflammation can take a toll and lead to fibrosis (scarring), which may progress into cirrhosis (severe scarring), and even liver failure.²˒⁵

Causes of liver damage or liver disease

• Viral infections: Certain viruses specifically target the liver. They are known as hepatitis viruses, and there are 5 main types: A, B, C, D, and E. All forms of viral hepatitis can cause an acute (short-term) infection. However, hepatitis B and C are more likely to become chronic (long-term) infections that cause ongoing liver inflammation. Over time, this damage can lead to liver disease and raise the risk of cirrhosis or liver cancer⁶
• Heavy alcohol use: Your liver breaks down alcohol so it can be removed from the body. But this process creates toxic byproducts that can irritate and injure liver cells. Heavy alcohol use can lead to inflammation, fat buildup in the liver (fatty liver disease), and scarring over time, which can eventually lead to cirrhosis⁵
• Metabolic dysfunction: Fat can build up inside liver cells when the body takes in or produces more fat than it can process. This can happen with metabolic conditions associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides⁵˒⁷
• Autoimmune diseases: Not all hepatitis is caused by a virus. In autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy liver cells. Without treatment, this ongoing inflammation can cause scarring and long-term liver damage. Other autoimmune conditions can also affect the liver and bile ducts (tubes that carry bile out of the liver)⁵

Liver disease can also develop from other medical conditions, genetic factors, exposure to certain toxins or chemicals, or some medications and supplements.

What is fatty liver disease?

Fatty liver disease happens when excess fat builds up in the liver. A small amount of fat in the liver is normal, but too much can cause inflammation. Over time, this can damage the liver and lead to scarring.⁸ 

There are 2 main types of fatty liver disease. ⁷⁻⁹

• Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) ALD develops from heavy alcohol use. Each time the liver filters alcohol, its cells are injured. The liver can usually replace damaged cells, but with repeated alcohol intake, the liver may not be able to keep up. When this happens, fat begins to build up in the liver causing a condition known as steatosis.
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) Formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), MASLD isn’t caused by heavy alcohol use. Instead, it’s linked to cardiometabolic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides. A more advanced form of MASLD is metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). With MASH, fat buildup in the liver leads to inflammation and can cause tissue damage and scarring.

In many cases, fatty liver disease doesn’t have noticeable symptoms. Some people may feel tired or have discomfort in the right upper side of the abdomen. Symptoms are more likely to appear once the condition progresses to cirrhosis.⁹ When this happens, it may cause:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Jaundice
• Swelling in the abdomen, hands, legs, or feet

Cirrhosis causes severe liver scarring that’s difficult to reverse, so taking steps to prevent it is especially important. Lifestyle changes can help reverse most stages of fatty liver disease, and early fibrosis may also improve when the underlying cause is treated. Following a doctor’s recommended treatment plan can help stop fatty liver from progressing and lower the risk of long-term complications.⁵˒⁷⁻⁹