What causes hepatotoxicity?
Some substances are directly toxic to the liver. Amanita mushrooms and acetaminophen overdose are famous for this. However, hepatotoxicity is usually more gradual and complicated. To understand it, we need to review basic physiology. The body treats everything as a foreign substance—be it a drug, food, or microorganism. It has to decide what to do with that substance. Basically, everything is used, neutralized and eventually eliminated. In some cases substances are stored. This is all done utilizing various chemical processes. It is a complex system, involving every organ. Food is turned into fuel or fat. If you eat something dangerous, such as a virus or bacteria, the immune system will go into action. Medication is turned into something therapeutic unless too much or the wrong drug is taken—then it may become toxic. When it comes to understanding hepatotoxicity, metabolism is a key concept. Metabolism occurs mostly in the liver. Metabolism is kind of a transformation process. This pr
