Intestines and liver: They are so important for your health!

Intestines and liver: They are so important for your health!

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, there is an exciting event on the program in Kulmbach: the town talk of the University of Bayreuth, at which Professor Dr. Janin Henkel-Oberländer will give an insight into the fascinating relationship between the intestine and liver. The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the Alte Spinnerei, Hans-Hacker-Straße 10, on the 1st floor, room 147.1. Admission is free and registration is not necessary, which makes the evening accessible to all citizens.

In her lecture entitled “Intestines and liver – a strong team for our health,” Professor Henkel-Oberländer will shed light on the crucial role of these two organs in human health. Particularly alarming is the high prevalence of metabolic dysfunction associated with the so-called steatotic liver disease (MASLD) - affecting over a third of adults. This disease increases the risk of serious complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver tumors.

The connection between the intestine and the liver

The health of the intestines and liver are closely linked. Functional disorders in the intestines can lead directly to liver disease and vice versa, as experts made clear at a Falk Foundation workshop. Prof. Dr. Tilmann Sauerbruch emphasized the interactions between the two organs and cited fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as examples of this connection. NASH has increased significantly in recent years with the increase in overweight and obesity, showing how important a healthy lifestyle is for the function of these organs.

A crucial aspect is the role of the liver in regulating intestinal function via bile acids. These interactions are important not only for digestion, but also for overall immune regulation in the body. What is interesting is the connection between altered intestinal flora and the development of inflammation, which can contribute to the progression of fatty liver disease. A healthy microbiota in the intestine plays a key role here.

The invitation to discussion

The event in Kulmbach not only offers specialist knowledge, but also the opportunity to exchange ideas with other interested parties. Professor Henkel-Oberländer will also present a current research project that deals with the causes and treatment options for both diseases. “What’s going on in your gut?” – this could be one of the central questions of the evening.

When looking at the connections between the intestines and liver, it becomes apparent that intestinal health not only influences our physical state, but also affects mental and emotional aspects. Disturbances in the communication between the microbiota and the brain can have an impact on overall well-being. This shows how deeply interwoven our organ systems are and how important a holistic approach is to our health.

We invite all readers to take part in this informative event. Not only the speaker would be happy about a lively discussion and lots of new insights, but also the participants.

For further information on the topic and the event, visit the reports from Wiesentbote, Medical Journal and Journalmed.