Tobacco and Liver Disease

Cigarette smoking may induce certain cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver, thereby increasing the susceptibility of smokers to the potentially hepatotoxic effects of some drugs, including acetaminophen. Smoking may also diminish the liver’s ability to detoxify dangerous substances, and it may affect the dose of medication required to treat a particular liver disease. Furthermore, cigarettes may worsen the course of alcoholic liver disease. Also, cigarettes have been associated with a possible increased incidence of liver cancer. And, as noted above, cigarettes may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity of certain drugs, such as NSAIDs. Therefore, people with liver disease should refrain from cigarette smoking.

There is no conclusive evidence that other forms of tobacco use, such as pipe and cigar smoking or the use of chewing tobacco, have an adverse effect on the liver. However, it is likely that these forms of tobacco have effects on the liver that are similar to those from cigarette smoking. Therefore, it is recommended that people with liver disease refrain from using these forms of tobacco as well.

Melissa Palmer, MD is the author of " Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide of Hepatitis and Liver Disease". (Published 2004. Penguin Putnam).

Dr. Palmer is an internationally renowned hepatologist who has been practicing medicine since 1985. Prior to 2012, she maintained perhaps the largest medical practice devoted to liver disease in the United States. Dr. Palmer is Clinical Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Palmer graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. and was trained in hepatology (as well as medical school) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

Dr. Palmer is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and in Internal Medicine.

She has authored numerous scientific publications in the field of hepatology in such peer-reviewed journals as Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Seminars of Liver Disease, Transplantation and Archives of Internal Medicine.

She is frequently called upon by the media for her opinion on various topics related to liver disease. Dr. Palmer has appeared many times on television as a liver disease expert and has been quoted in such publications as TIME magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine, Prevention magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Newsday. She also has appeared in numerous videos and CD-Roms aimed at educating doctors and the public about hepatitis C and other liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis. Dr. Palmer lectures to the medical and general public on liver disease-related topics on a regular basis.

Dr. Palmer has performed numerous clinical trials on various experimental medications for the treatment of hepatitis.

Dr. Palmer is currently available for lecturing, investor and hedge-fund consultations, consultations to industry, and media interviews and appearances-- including television. For such matters, she can be contacted through hepatitismedia@gmail.com.

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