People with certain intestinal diseases are at greater risk of developing a liver problem. They need to take extra care of their liver to reduce this risk. The liver is in close proximity to the intestines and intestinal blood heads straight to the liver via the hepatic portal vein. Inflammation inside the intestines can cause high levels of waste products to arrive at the liver, potentially damaging liver cells.

The inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are linked to a greater risk of liver conditions. Some medication used to treat inflammatory bowel disease may also damage the liver.

According to research published in the World Journal of Hepatology, up to 30 percent of people with inflammatory bowel disease have liver abnormalities and 5 percent have a chronic liver disease.

Because of this, I recommend that everyone with inflammatory bowel disease has their liver enzymes checked annually. It’s also important to be aware of the common symptoms of liver disease so you can address the problem before it becomes more serious.

Common symptoms of poor liver health:

  • Fatigue
  • Itchy skin
  • Jaundice
  • Pain or a feeling of discomfort in the upper right abdomen
  • Fluid retention
  • Easy bruising

The following conditions are more common in those with inflammatory bowel disease

Autoimmune Hepatitis

This causes chronic inflammation in the liver when the immune system starts attacking your own liver. It’s different from a viral infection of the liver but can still cause significant damage to the liver and make a person feel very unwell.

People with the condition are typically given a high dose steroid such as prednisone, which is eventually reduced and replaced with medication that modulates the way the immune system behaves. As with all autoimmune conditions, I recommend treatment includes healing leaky gut and improving the composition of gut bugs. There is detailed information in my book called Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

This liver disease is most closely associated with ulcerative colitis. Approximately 60 to 80 percent of people with primary sclerosing cholangitis also have inflammatory bowel disease, most often ulcerative colitis.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis causes scarring of the bile ducts that drain bile from the liver to the intestine. It is an autoimmune disease.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease occurs more commonly in those with inflammatory bowel disease, but it’s also more common in those with celiac disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It occurs when fat builds up in the liver, either from a problem with fat metabolism in the liver or excess fat stores in the body. A liver ultrasound scan and blood test are good ways to detect fatty liver. See my recommendations for how to reverse it in the book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It.

Pancreatitis

This means inflammation of the pancreas, and it is more likely to occur when the intestines are inflamed due to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Sometimes it is caused by gallstones blocking a bile duct shared by the gallbladder and the pancreas. In some people, pancreatitis can be a side effect of drugs used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, such as azathioprine, mesalamine formulations, or steroids.

Pancreatitis can be mild and chronic or a severe acute disease. Symptoms may include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and fever. A surgical procedure to take out trapped stones can resolve pancreatitis if caused by gallstones.

Gallbladder conditions

Gallstones form when bile, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, hardens into small stones. A lot of people have gallstones and aren’t aware of it because they may not cause any symptoms. If a stone blocks the mouth of the gallbladder, you can experience severe pain that results in a trip to hospital. Your gallbladder may have to be removed. Insulin resistance is a common cause of gallstones. They tend to occur in overweight people who eat more carbohydrate than their body can tolerate. Gallstones can also occur in those with celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Taking an ox bile supplement helps to prevent the bile from becoming too thick and can help protect your gallbladder. See the information in my book called Save Your Gallbladder Naturally, and what to do if you’ve already lost it.

Symptoms including pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, itching, jaundice, and fatigue could be a sign of a potential liver complication. If you experience these symptoms, see your doctor for thorough investigations.

Livatone Plus is a comprehensive and unique formulation designed to strengthen detoxification pathways, to rid the body of toxins, heavy metals and excess cholesterol. Livatone Plus can assist the liver in repairing and regenerating itself in cases of inflammation or liver damage and supports the gallbladder and digestive system to function optimally.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.