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Part of the book series: Topics in Gastroenterology ((TGEN))

Abstract

The liver is a pivotal organ in human nutrition. It modifies much of the nutrient material it receives through the portal circulation, it adds significantly to the intraluminal digestive process through bile secretion, and it has an important hormonal or humoral effect via feedback mechanisms such as exist in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism. There are undoubtedly many other nutritional systems it affects that are yet not fully understood. When the liver becomes diseased, these functions may be affected. A full text would be required to describe completely the biochemical role of the liver. In this chapter, an attempt is made to describe some major biochemical phenomena that are affected by disease and treatable by diet modifications.

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© 1981 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Floch, M.H. (1981). Liver Diseases. In: Nutrition and Diet Therapy in Gastrointestinal Disease. Topics in Gastroenterology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3791-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3791-1_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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