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Around half of end-stage liver disease cases, also known as livercirrhosis, are caused by alcohol.
Overall, liver cirrhosis is the 10th biggest killer in the US.
Science already has an understanding of how alcohol can directly impact the liver's health; the metabolic products of the breakdown of alcohol are toxic to the liver.
Additionally, the inflammation that these secondary compounds produce can be harmful to the organ's functioning.
New research published this week in Cell Host & Microbe shows how a secondary mechanism, involving bacteria in the gut, also plays a significant role in the liver's downfall.
Dr. Bernd Schnabl and his team at the University of California found that alcohol can suppress antibacterial defense systems within the intestines, causing further damage to the liver.