What is one function of the liver related to detoxification?

The liver plays a crucial role in detoxification, and filtering harmful substances is one of its primary functions. It processes blood coming from the digestive tract, where toxins and harmful metabolites absorbed from food and drink are present. The liver cells contain enzymes that can convert these toxic substances into harmless ones or facilitate their excretion from the body. This includes mechanisms to neutralize drugs, alcohol, and metabolic byproducts, which are then either excreted into bile or released into the blood for elimination through the kidneys. This detoxifying process is essential to maintaining the body's overall health and metabolic balance.

In contrast, while the liver certainly participates in the storage of energy, production of glucose, and regulation of hormone levels, these functions are not directly related to its detoxification role. Storage of energy pertains mainly to glycogen and fat reserves, while glucose production is a process that supports energy metabolism rather than detoxification. Regulating hormone levels involves the liver’s role in the metabolism of hormones, but again, this is distinct from the detoxification function that focuses on filtering harmful substances.