Can the Liver Regenerate After Suffering from Acute Damage?

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The liver makes up 3% of the human body. As one of the most significant organs, it plays a crucial role in your overall well-being. Some essential functions of the liver include:

• Detoxification — the liver breaks down and eliminates harmful substances in your body
• Bile production — the liver produces bile that helps in vitamin and fat digestion
• Energy storage — excess glucose is stored as glycogen in the liver for future use

When your liver is damaged, your body is deprived of most of these functions, putting you at higher risk of severe health complications. As such, it is important to know the conditions and substances that can damage your liver and how to promote liver regeneration in the event of damage.

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What causes liver damage?

Various conditions and substances can damage your liver and eventually scar it. Scarring causes your liver to work twice as hard (if not more) to perform its normal functions. The most common causes of liver damage are the following:

• Alcohol
• Medications and supplements
• Autoimmune conditions
• Fat accumulation

Which signs indicate your liver is damaged?

The signs of liver damage are not always evident until the last stages of liver failure. Some may show no signs at all. If by chance, your liver does show signs of damage, symptoms may include the following:

• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• Itchy skin
• Dark urine color
• Pale stool color

Remember these signs. It’s essential to spot any symptoms of liver damage early to take the required steps to avoid liver failure. Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any persistent signs of liver damage, especially pain in the upper right abdomen. Doing so could prevent further damage that can become quickly life-threatening.

Can your liver grow back?

Yes, your liver can grow back after being damaged. The concept of liver regeneration was first discovered in 1990 when two researchers performed a liver regeneration test on rats. Results from the experiment showed that the liver could grow back during the early stages of liver damage.

Much of the liver’s regeneration abilities have to do with it being a quiescent organ (one cell is responsible for developing other cells). When damage occurs to a quiescent organ like the liver, the one cell responsible for cell production stops being the sole facilitator of growth. Instead, other cells join in, divide, and grow to cause rapid regeneration of the organ.

In the liver, this happens in three stages, starting with the initiation stage, where cells prepare to divide. It is then followed by the proliferation and termination stage when the liver is almost back to its original size. The cells must be activated under the right conditions for the liver to regrow.

How to help liver regrowth

First, let’s get one thing clear. The term “regeneration” refers to growing back an organ after it’s been wholly damaged or lost, like in the case of a lizard’s tail. Unfortunately, it cannot happen to the liver.

The better term for it would be “liver regrowth.” However, we’ll use both terms—regeneration and regrowth—for continuity. With that said, if you’ve been asking, “Does your liver grow back?” here are ways to help activate the liver regeneration process in your body.

• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Manage your weight
• Monitor medication use
• Prevent the risk of liver infections
• Get regular medical checkups

Remember, the earlier the treatment, the less time it takes for your liver to grow back.

When is liver transplant an option?

Liver transplants are a treatment reserved for people with end-stage chronic liver disease. Such people have severe liver complications that cannot be reversed unless by replacing the entire kidney.

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