New kava drinker with a question

[Jadedfaction]

Hi all!

im a new kava drinker; about 3 days into this journey, and im really digging it. I would say without a doubt this replaces my nightly "relax time" beers. I do have a question though; i was curious if anyone knew if kava is treated in the same way ethanol is in the liver. i know that when ethanol is present in your system that is the only thing the liver will burn until it's gone. im guessing that most likely kava isn't treated this way by our bodies, but i thought i would just ask to see if there is anyone who has heard for a fact. not only am i ditching the 700 extra calories in my diet, but im not taxing my liver or kidneys, and im in a much better frame of mind. sleep is awesome too, and i don't wake up feeling "bleh" like you do with drinking beer.

Current Stash:
BKH 11 Year Micronized

 

[Zac Imiola (Herbalist)]

I have no clue ! But congrats enjoy !

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

I'm not sure exactly, but I've read that it induces the cytochrome P-450 in the liver for metabolizing and is excreted mostly through urine as new metabolites and as unchanged kavalactones.

 

[verticity]

...i know that when ethanol is present in your system that is the only thing the liver will burn until it's gone. im guessing that most likely kava isn't treated this way by our bodies, but i thought i would just ask to see if there is anyone who has heard for a fact. ...

Welcome to the Forum, Jadedfaction. I have never heard that the liver stops metabolizing other things when there is alcohol present. That doesn't make any sense. But kavalactones--kava's active ingredients--are drugs that are metabolized by liver enzymes, as @shakas correctly said. Therefore, there is the possibility of interactions with other drugs that are metabolized by the same liver enzymes. But I should add that the fact that it is metabolized by the liver does not mean it is bad for your liver, or that it "taxes" your liver. Almost all drugs are metabolized that way.

 

[whiterabbit8666]

Heres a list I found of kava and its different interactions with the body..if you need a link msg me.

PharmacodynamicsEdit

The following pharmacological actions have been reported for kava and/or its major active constituents:[4][6]

Potentiation of GABAA receptor activity (by kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, and yangonin).Inhibition of the reuptake of norepinephrine(by kavain and methysticin) and possibly also of dopamine (by kavain and desmethoxyyangonin).Agonism of the CB1 receptor (by yangonin).[7]Inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channelsand voltage-gated calcium channels (by kavain and methysticin).Monoamine oxidase B reversible inhibition (by all six of the major kavalactones).

Other effects include significant reduction of the inhibitory effects of muscimol (a GABAAreceptor agonist) in the solitary nucleus of thebrain stem of rats (by "kavalactones or dihydrokavain"), and elevation of dopaminelevels in the nucleus accumbens of rats (by high concentrations of kavain and desmethoxyyangonin).[4]

In addition to the above, receptor binding assays have revealed direct interactions of leaf extracts of kava (which appear to be more active than root extracts) with the GABA(i.e., main) binding site of the GABAA receptor, the D2 receptor, the μ- and δ-opioid receptors, and the H1 and H2 receptors.[8][9] Weak interaction with the 5-HT6 and 5-HT7receptors and the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor was also observed.[8]

Potentiation of GABAA receptor activity may underlie the anxiolytic effects of kava, while elevation of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens and agonism of the μ-opioid receptor likely underlie the moderatelyeuphorigenic effects the plant can produce.[10] However, failure of the GABAAreceptor inhibitor flumazenil to reverse the anxiolytic effects of kava in mice suggests that an alternative mechanism may be responsible for this effect.[11]

Heavy, long-term use of kava has been found to not reduce ability in saccade and cognitive tests, but has been associated with elevated liver enzymes.[12]

 

[avahZ]

From what I understand kava is hard on the liver, but if a noble variety is used very few issues will result. That being said, other drugs like Tylenol and alcohol taken with kava could potentially hurt the liver. Be wary of non-noble kava and extracts that use chemicals like acetone. CO2 and water extraction of noble kavas seem to be a safer choice.

 

[avahZ]

Check drugs.com and see how a medication metabolized. My asthma meds are metabolized by the liver, but that's one combo I can not avoid. My next physical apt. I will have my liver enzymes checked just to make sure.

 

[verticity]

From what I understand kava is hard on the liver, but if a noble variety is used very few issues will result. That being said, other drugs like Tylenol and alcohol taken with kava could potentially hurt the liver. Be wary of non-noble kava and extracts that use chemicals like acetone. CO2 and water extraction of noble kavas seem to be a safer choice.

I basically agree, except that I don't think there really is good scientific evidence that kava is "hard on the liver" It is metabolized by the liver, but being "hard on the liver" would imply that it can damage the liver, and I don't think there is sufficient basis to say that. Of course you will read that all over the Internet due to the FDA warning a decade ago; but just because you read something on the Internet, does not mean it is true. That applies equally to this comment you are reading right now, of course... [Poof! Disappears into epistemological void..]

 

[verticity]

Of course, I mean by itself kava is not hard on the liver. Mix it with alcohol or tylenol, and all bets are off..

 

[avahZ]

but just because you read something on the Internet, does not mean it is true. That applies equally to this comment you are reading right now, of course... [Poof! Disappears into epistemological void..]

WHAAAAT!!!! LOL I agree, but I would rather be sure for now. I do plan on keeping my blood shot eye (see avatar) on my liver panels just in case!

 

[verticity]

WHAAAAT!!!! LOL I agree, but I would rather be sure for now. I do plan on keeping my blood shot eye (see avatar) on my liver panels just in case!

That is wise.
I guess I would liken it to someone going around saying "bananas are hard on your kidneys". It is true that people with kidney disease are placed on a low-potassium diet; so in that sense, bananas could exacerbate your condition if you already have kidney disease... but they don't cause kidney disease, nor are they bad for the kidneys of a normal healthy person. I suspect it might be a similar kind of situation with kava.