What does the liver do in digestion?

The liver plays several essential roles in digestion:

- Bile Production: The liver produces bile, a greenish-yellow fluid that helps digest fats. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine when needed. It emulsifies fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets to increase the surface area available for digestion by enzymes.

- Detoxification of Waste Products: The liver plays a crucial role in detoxification by metabolizing and removing various waste products, toxins, drugs, and alcohol from the bloodstream.

- Nutrient Metabolism: The liver is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. It converts excess glucose into glycogen (storage form) and regulates blood glucose levels. The liver also processes and metabolizes proteins and amino acids, converting them into energy or storing them for future use.

- Nutrient Storage: The liver serves as a storage site for essential nutrients. It stores glycogen (glucose), vitamins (A, B12, D, and K), and minerals (copper and iron).

- Synthesis of Plasma Proteins: The liver is responsible for synthesizing various plasma proteins, including albumin, clotting factors (essential for blood coagulation), and transport proteins that carry molecules such as hormones and lipids in the blood.

- Detoxification of Ammonia: The liver converts toxic ammonia, a byproduct of protein metabolism, into urea, which is excreted in the urine.

- Role in Cholesterol Metabolism: The liver is involved in the synthesis of cholesterol and bile acids. It regulates cholesterol levels in the body by removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.