07/11/2025
The gut and liver are in constant communication through the gut–liver axis, a two-way biochemical network involving the portal vein, bile acids, immune cells, and microbial metabolites.
This pathway means that everything absorbed in the gut including nutrients, toxins, and bacterial by-products passes directly to the liver for processing.
In a healthy gut, beneficial bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate and propionate, which help regulate inflammation, strengthen the intestinal barrier, and modulate liver metabolism. They also influence bile acid recycling, supporting healthy digestion and detoxification.
However, when gut dysbiosis occurs triggered by antibiotics, alcohol, poor diet, or stress the balance shifts. Pathogenic bacteria and their toxins, including lipopolysaccharides (LPS), can leak through the intestinal wall into circulation. These molecules activate immune receptors (like TLR4) in the liver, driving oxidative stress, inflammation, and fat accumulation mechanisms associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction.
Restoring microbial diversity and gut barrier integrity is therefore key to supporting liver health. A a balanced gut ecosystem can reduce LPS load, and enhance natural detoxification pathways. Combined with nutritional strategies such as high-fibre plant foods, polyphenols, omega-3 fats, reduced refined sugars to regulate inflammation and promote optimal liver function.
