Short-term impact
Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time can cause inflammation and temporary fat accumulation in the liver, even when the body has not shown obvious symptoms. When alcohol is decomposed, the body produces acetaldehyde - a substance that can cause irritation and inflammation of liver cells.
After overdosing, blood tests may show high liver enzymes, reflecting that the liver is damaged or inflamed. One of the common effects is alcohol-induced fatty liver - a condition in which fat accumulates in liver cells.
In addition, alcohol can also hinder fat metabolism and nutrient absorption. Some vitamins such as B1 and folate are more likely to be deficient because alcohol reduces absorption in the small intestine.
Long-term impact
The liver has the ability to self-recover, but repeated excessive alcohol consumption can gradually cause this organ to lose its ability to fully recover. Over time, liver damage can progress from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis and finally cirrhosis.
Prolonged alcohol abuse also reduces the liver's ability to detoxify and metabolize, and at the same time, increases the risk of liver cancer.
