Liver test

[yellow snow]

Thought this might help some that have questions on liver test. I am still trying to find the abstract that tried to prove that GGT is a better indicator of a failing liver due to anabolics than AST and ALT which have been shown to be elevated when poeple workout or do hard labor/activity.

[h=2]What are the commonly used liver function tests? [/h]Liver Enzyme Tests
Alanine Transaminase (ALT) is an enzyme mainly found in your liver. The ALT test measures the level of ALT in your blood. Consistently high levels of ALT in your blood can be a sign of liver damage.
Aspartate Transaminase (AST) is an enzyme found in large amounts in your liver and other parts of your body. The AST test measures the level of AST in your blood. High levels of AST can be a sign of liver damage.
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in large amounts in your liver, bile ducts, and other parts of your body. The ALP test measures the level of ALP in your blood. High levels of ALP can be a sign of liver or bile duct damage.
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is an enzyme found in large amounts in your liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. The GGT test measures the level of GGT in your blood. High levels of GGT can be a sign of liver or bile duct damage.
Liver Protein Tests
Total Protein measures the amount of protein in your blood. The two main proteins found in the blood are globulins and albumin.
Globulin is a protein made in your liver and helps the immune system fight infections. Low globulin levels can be a sign of liver damage or other conditions.
Albumin is another protein made in your liver. An albumin test measures how well your liver is making the proteins that your body needs. Low albumin levels can be a sign of liver damage.
Prothrombin is a protein made in your liver and helps with clotting blood. A prothrombin time test measures how much time it takes for your blood to clot. A high prothrombin time can be a sign of liver damage.
Bilirubin Tests
Bilirubin is a yellow fluid made in your body when red blood cells break down. A bilirubin test measures the level of bilirubin in your blood. If your liver is damaged, bilirubin can leak out of your liver into your blood and can cause jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes). It also can come out in the urine making it look very dark.

 

[yellow snow]

Liver Function Testing - basics
5 blood tests – ALT, AST ALP, GGT (gammaglutamyltransferase) and bilirubin – are included in liver function tests.[8] ALT, AST and ALP are also included in the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which is part of common routine blood work.

ALT and AST are also known as aminotransferases or transaminases. They are considered good markers of liver inflammation that may impair its function.[9] ALT is regarded as a reliable marker of liver damage or liver disease, as well as an indicator of overall health.[7, 10-12]

The name “liver function testing” is, however, somewhat of a misnomer; these tests are neither specific to the liver - the enzymes are also present in other tissues, e.g. AST is present in a far greater amounts in muscle than the liver - nor true measures of liver function. Rather than assessing functions of the liver, the release of ALT and ALP (and AST to a much lesser extent) from liver cells to the bloodstream indicates liver cell damage or death, and/or blockage or damage in the biliary system (a.k.a. cholestasis), if ALP and bilirubin are elevated).[13] Thus, the term “liver injury tests” would be more appropriate.[14]

True indicators of liver function are tests that directly or indirectly measure substances synthesized or metabolized by the liver, and include albumin (which is part of the CMP panel), prothrombin time (reflecting clotting factors produced by the liver) and bilirubin.[8, 15]

How high elevations in ALT and AST are accepted?


Even though there is no universal agreement on what constitutes mild, moderate or marked aminotransferase elevation, a general clinical practice guideline is: [7]

- Mild elevation = less than 5 times the upper reference limit.
- Moderate elevation = 5–10 times the upper reference limit.
- Marked elevation = over 10 times the upper reference limit.

Now, let’s compare this to commonly encountered elevations in aminotransferases – and other labs – caused by intense exercise…

How does exercise impact common blood tests?


Weightlifting results in profound increases in liver related parameters; these elevations can be prolonged, lasting for 1 week after performing an intense weightlifting workout.[16] Table 1 summarizes blood tests that are commonly used to assess liver function. Note that the normal range values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. They also can vary with age and gender.

Table 1: Non-pathological elevations of common blood tests after strenuous exercise in healthy people.
Data compiled from references [16-19].

* The numbers indicate fold-elevation above the upper end of the normal range, caused by intense exercise, in healthy people.

IU/L = International units per liter
ALT = alanine aminotransferase
ALP = alkaline phosphatase
AST = aspartate aminotransferase

Elevations in these enzymes are proportional to body weight, exercise type (resistance exercise in general increasing levels more than aerobic exercise), and exercise intensity.[17] Anabolic steroid–using bodybuilders have the highest enzyme levels, but the steroid-free bodybuilders and exercising male students also have significantly elevated levels of AST and CK.[17]

For drug-induced liver injury, the ALT cut off point of 5-fold over the upper end of the normal range (or 3-fold if total bilirubin exceeds its normal range by 2-fold).[20] As indicated in the table, intense exercise may rise ALT 5-fold. The question becomes, how does one know if enzyme elevations are a harmless response to exercise, or an indication of liver damage?

How to distinguish exercise-induced elevations in transaminases from those caused by liver disease?


The simplest blood test that should be included when examining liver health in people engaging in regular intense resistance exercise is GGT (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase). The reason is that GGT distinguishes healthy people with resistance training induced elevations in ALT and AST from patients with hepatitis.[17] One notable study found that bodybuilders (both anabolic steroid non-users and users) both had a GGT level around 30 U/L (normal range for this assay; 8-78 U/L), while hepatitis patients had GGT levels of 212 U/L (i.e. a 2.7-fold elevation above the upper end of normal range).[17] This was confirmed in another study which showed that resistance exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men; while ALT, AST and CK were greatly elevated, GGT was not.[16] Thus, including GGT in blood testing for evaluation of liver status will help differentiation between transaminase elevations due to muscle damage vs. liver damage. While GGT is a simple parameter to measure, it is not included in routine clinical lab panels, and thus has to be specifically requested.

16. Pettersson, J., et al., Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 2008. 65(2): p. 253-9. 17. Dickerman, R.D., et al., Anabolic steroid-induced hepatotoxicity: is it overstated? Clin J Sport Med, 1999. 9(1): p. 34-9.

 

[BigZ]

Liver enzymes continue to be a sore spot for me vs. my doctors. I've had slightly elevated liver values for AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT for a long as I've had regular tests back to when I was 30. Not really high, just 3-4 points above the high end of the range. Docs always, always assumed and still assume it is because of the HRT. Yet when I had liver ultrasounds and scans done for concerned doctors, my liver was normal. Only in the last couple of months has an ultrasound now shown some irregularity of what *appears* to be fatty liver. I don't drink alcohol, never have, so it isn't from that. The real reason my liver is having trouble is my hemochromatosis, which is known for causing it, but the docs don't seem to want to accept that--even the doc who found out I have the disease. I have had a lot of success with milk thistle, usually with 1000mg/day in helping to heal the liver. I've been able to bring some of the liver values back into range with it although a couple stubbornly remain a couple of points high.

 

[Muscle mechanic]

Liver enzymes continue to be a sore spot for me vs. my doctors. I've had slightly elevated liver values for AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT for a long as I've had regular tests back to when I was 30. Not really high, just 3-4 points above the high end of the range. Docs always, always assumed and still assume it is because of the HRT. Yet when I had liver ultrasounds and scans done for concerned doctors, my liver was normal. Only in the last couple of months has an ultrasound now shown some irregularity of what *appears* to be fatty liver. I don't drink alcohol, never have, so it isn't from that. The real reason my liver is having trouble is my hemochromatosis, which is known for causing it, but the docs don't seem to want to accept that--even the doc who found out I have the disease. I have had a lot of success with milk thistle, usually with 1000mg/day in helping to heal the liver. I've been able to bring some of the liver values back into range with it although a couple stubbornly remain a couple of points high.

Big Z, I have had elevated enzymes and backed off of orals. I still take a little but no stanozolol oral or inj. Dbol never more than 20-30. Superdrol 10 mg. That's about it epistane at 20 dose me good without causing problems.
But I don't take these more than 4 weeks once or twice a year anymore.
I have high rbc, I gotta donate even on trt 100 mg per week. I don't donate I have dr order for phlebotomy every 3 weeks have to go between 3-5 weeks year round year after year. I take fergon (iron) with vit c over the counter but dr writes as script twice a day. Got low storage Iron from constant draining blood.
About fatty liver I know that can happen with insulin resistance right before type 2 diabetes developes. Its a metabolic syndrome. High liver enzymes do suggest liver damage they say out of range those enzyme except into our bodies from liver.
I take milk thistle 400mg and Nac 600mg something u may consider is lowering bmi and changing your diet. Get triglycerides down and lipids within ranges.
Gw 50156 is supposed to help with this too.
I got my liver fixed long ago and stay at bmi of around 28-30 at most but I go down to 26 at 5'9" 180 at least every year. Staying too big can put a toll on liver and glycogen storage can cause fatty liver in no drinkers who exercise with muscle and low fat.

 

[Presser]

Thought this might help some that have questions on liver test. I am still trying to find the abstract that tried to prove that GGT is a better indicator of a failing liver due to anabolics than AST and ALT which have been shown to be elevated when poeple workout or do hard labor/activity.

What are the commonly used liver function tests?

Liver Enzyme Tests
Alanine Transaminase (ALT) is an enzyme mainly found in your liver. The ALT test measures the level of ALT in your blood. Consistently high levels of ALT in your blood can be a sign of liver damage.
Aspartate Transaminase (AST) is an enzyme found in large amounts in your liver and other parts of your body. The AST test measures the level of AST in your blood. High levels of AST can be a sign of liver damage.
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in large amounts in your liver, bile ducts, and other parts of your body. The ALP test measures the level of ALP in your blood. High levels of ALP can be a sign of liver or bile duct damage.
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is an enzyme found in large amounts in your liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. The GGT test measures the level of GGT in your blood. High levels of GGT can be a sign of liver or bile duct damage.
Liver Protein Tests
Total Protein measures the amount of protein in your blood. The two main proteins found in the blood are globulins and albumin.
Globulin is a protein made in your liver and helps the immune system fight infections. Low globulin levels can be a sign of liver damage or other conditions.
Albumin is another protein made in your liver. An albumin test measures how well your liver is making the proteins that your body needs. Low albumin levels can be a sign of liver damage.
Prothrombin is a protein made in your liver and helps with clotting blood. A prothrombin time test measures how much time it takes for your blood to clot. A high prothrombin time can be a sign of liver damage.
Bilirubin Tests
Bilirubin is a yellow fluid made in your body when red blood cells break down. A bilirubin test measures the level of bilirubin in your blood. If your liver is damaged, bilirubin can leak out of your liver into your blood and can cause jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes). It also can come out in the urine making it look very dark.

thnx brudda

 

[yesidont]

2 weeks ago my AST was 185 U/L and ALT 525 u/L, last Friday AST 69U/L and ALT 230 U/L ;/

i add only one thing to my diet to prepare myself to " liver cleaning " i want to get out all liver stones, yes all of us have this shit in our livers and USG wont show them :/

 

[Muscle mechanic]

2 weeks ago my AST was 185 U/L and ALT 525 u/L, last Friday AST 69U/L and ALT 230 U/L ;/

i add only one thing to my diet to prepare myself to " liver cleaning " i want to get out all liver stones, yes all of us have this shit in our livers and USG wont show them :/

I have used black Walnut and wormwood to clean. If u talking about flukes that is! Lol!
Removing parasites definitely helps and they cause stones and bile back up. 2000 mg single dose of coq10 also knocks alot out.

 

[Synthetek]

Liver enzymes continue to be a sore spot for me vs. my doctors. I've had slightly elevated liver values for AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT for a long as I've had regular tests back to when I was 30. Not really high, just 3-4 points above the high end of the range. Docs always, always assumed and still assume it is because of the HRT. Yet when I had liver ultrasounds and scans done for concerned doctors, my liver was normal. Only in the last couple of months has an ultrasound now shown some irregularity of what *appears* to be fatty liver. I don't drink alcohol, never have, so it isn't from that. The real reason my liver is having trouble is my hemochromatosis, which is known for causing it, but the docs don't seem to want to accept that--even the doc who found out I have the disease. I have had a lot of success with milk thistle, usually with 1000mg/day in helping to heal the liver. I've been able to bring some of the liver values back into range with it although a couple stubbornly remain a couple of points high.

Are your liver values consistently elevated still?