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Hormone-Regulating Functions of the Liver

According to the University of Southern California department of surgery, the liver performs more than 400 functions crucial to the body's overall health on a daily basis. One of the liver's most significant responsibilities is hormone regulation.

  1. Synthesis

    • The liver is responsible for synthesizing important hormones, the body's "chemical messengers," meaning that it processes chemical compounds, so the body may use them as essential proteins, acids and fats.

    Secretion

    • The liver is responsible for secreting necessary hormones into the bloodstream and plays a vital role in the concentration of blood glucose. The liver is also responsible for secreting amino acid proteins, such as hepcidin and angiotensin, crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system and blood circulation.

    Elimination

    • The liver eliminates hormones through bile or urine, so that an overabundance of certain hormones, such as androgen and estrogen, do not accumulate in body tissues and cause abnormal growths, such as uterine fibroids and cysts of the ovaries and breasts.

    Thrombopoietin Production

    • Thrombopoietin (TPO) is a protein hormone produced by the liver. This hormone is crucial for production of bone marrow cells and their differentiation into platelets that are essential to blood clotting.

    Breakdown

    • The liver is responsible for breaking down insulin, hemoglobin and other hormones, in addition to breaking down toxins and transforming ammonia into urea.

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