Very High Liver Enzymes

**Lyssie** · February 26, 2007, 10:03 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Are you drinking all your water, and eating the proper ratio of protein (as in, not more than 30%)?

**Stella** · February 26, 2007, 10:22 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Hi Lyssie -

Yep, I always drink at least 64 oz. and most of the time more than that.
I have not been too great at doing FitDay but when I did for two weeks straight around the first of the year I was always right on track with percentages. I should keep better track.

**theredhead** · February 26, 2007, 11:07 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Here's some info I found on the net that might be helpful:

What are normal levels of AST and ALT?

The normal range of values for AST (SGOT) is from 5 to 40 units per liter of serum (the liquid part of the blood).
The normal range of values for ALT (SGPT) is from 7 to 56 units per liter of serum.

What do elevated AST and ALT mean?

AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) are sensitive indicators of liver damage from different types of disease. But it must be emphasized that higher-than-normal levels of these liver enzymes should not be automatically equated with liver disease. They may mean liver problems or they may not. The interpretation of elevated AST and ALT levels depends upon the whole clinical picture and so it is best done by doctors experienced in evaluating liver disease.

The precise levels of these enzymes do not correlate well with the extent of liver damage or the prognosis (outlook). Thus, the exact levels of AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) cannot be used to determine the degree of liver disease or predict the future. For example, patients with acute viral hepatitis A may develop very high AST and ALT levels (sometimes in the thousands of units/liter range). But most patients with acute viral hepatitis A recover fully without residual liver disease. For a contrasting example, patients with chronic hepatitis C infection typically have only a little elevation in their AST and ALT levels. Some of these patients may have quietly developed chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (advanced scarring of the liver).

What liver diseases cause abnormal aminotransferase levels?

The highest levels of AST and ALT are found with disorders that cause the death of numerous liver cells (extensive hepatic necrosis). This occurs in such conditions as acute viral hepatitis A or B, pronounced liver damage inflicted by toxins as from an overdose of acetaminophen (brand-name Tylenol), and prolonged collapse of the circulatory system (shock) when the liver is deprived of fresh blood bringing oxygen and nutrients. AST and ALT serum levels in these situations can range anywhere from ten times the upper limits of normal to thousands of units/liter.

Mild to moderate elevations of the liver enzymes are commonplace. They are often unexpectedly encountered on routine blood screening tests in otherwise healthy individuals. The AST and ALT levels in such cases are usually between twice the upper limits of normal and several hundred units/liter.

The most common cause of mild to moderate elevations of these liver enzymes is fatty liver. In the United States, the most frequent cause of fatty liver is alcohol abuse. Other causes of fatty liver include diabetes mellitus and obesity. Chronic hepatitis C is also becoming an important cause of mild to moderate liver enzyme elevations.

What medications cause abnormal aminotransferase levels?

A host of medications can cause abnormal liver enzymes levels. Examples include:

Pain relief medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), neproxen (Narosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), and phenybutazone (Butazolidine)
Anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), valproic acid, carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital
Antibiotics such as the tetracyclines, sulfonamides, isoniazid (INH), sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin, etc.
Cholesterol lowering drugs such as the "statins" (Mevacor, Pravachol, Lipitor, etc.) and niacin
Cardiovascular drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone), hydralazine, quinidine, etc.
Anti-depressant drugs of the tricyclic type

With drug-induced liver enzyme abnormalities, the enzymes usually normalize weeks to months after stopping the medications.

I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Her Dr. has recommended that she follow a low-carb diet. He's also checking to see if she has diabetes or hepatitis, since that's often the underlying cause of this disease. I thought it was interesting that this article also pointed out that the overuse of Tylenol could be a possible cause.

Hang in there! I hope everything resolves itself with no hassle.

**sallyseachange** · February 27, 2007, 04:30 AM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Were your liver enzymes high before Atkins... or are these figures a consequence of this way of eating, do you think?

Afraid I don't know much about this at all, so can't give you any reliable advice, but I'm sure there will soon be others around who can and will.

**biogeek** · February 27, 2007, 08:29 AM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

You say you're worn out....do you mean just general tiredness or are you really exhausted?

What Laurie posted has really good info, but just so you know...it's normal to have those liver enzymes, just not a lot of it in your bloodstream. Since an elevated level was detected in bloodwork, it means that the enzymes have leaked into your blood because of some injury to your liver, either by trauma, some sort of cellular damage, or other causes.

Are you taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen? What about herbal supplements such as kava, pennyroyal, or comfrey?

Have you had any type of infection lately? What about your alcohol intake? I'm sure your doctor has asked you detailed questions, but just in case, it would not hurt to research as much as you can on-line at reputable sources such as the Mayo Clinic, the CDC, university websites, etc.

Doctors are can make mistakes and not do everything that they should. It's up to you to be well informed so that you can ask good questions the next time you go back.

The liver has a great way of healing itself, but up to a certain point. Please keep us informed! Best of luck on getting healed!

**Stella** · February 27, 2007, 03:19 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Thank you everyone. Laurie - The info posted is very helpful! THANK YOU!!

Just to add a few things - I do not drink alchol (Dr. did ask this - now my husband is teasing me about "my two drinks" a year - and not handling my liquor is catching up with me.)
Secondly, I do not take ANY medications at all. For the last two years when needed I had been taking Alieve - but I haven't used it even once in the last three months.

I also take no herbal suppliments - I had even stopped taking my vitamins unitl 3 days ago.

I guess what I'm gong to do is learn as much as I can and try to eat more veggies and a little less protien and have it re-checked in 30 days to see how it goes.

I guess I have had a cough for about two months - I relate it to asthma and wintertime. I have taken no medications for it as it is mild and only flairs up once in a while. The last few days it has been worse.

In the book Dr. Atkins says that the liver enzymes should be very good - that is all that is mentioned.

I was hoping someone else had experience with this personally and found a way to correct it without quiting. I am not ready to do that at this point.

Thank you BioGeek - I guess I'm somewhere between sluggish and exhausted. I was very lazy on Sunday and then slept for 3 hours and went to bed early. Not really normal for me since I started this WOE. (I credited that to the Huge snowstorm we had - nothing really to do)

**boonie stomper** · February 27, 2007, 03:57 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Stella.... have you got the test results back re. Hepatitis? That definately causes elevated ALT-AST ratio and fatigue. It takes extra good nutritional support to allow an injured liver to recover more quickly, which would explain why Atkins dieters typically have good levels.

I had hepatitis and felt 80 years old all the time. I'm cured now, and feel great relatively speaking. Supplements including antioxidants, B-complex, minerals and milk thistle (along with my meds for the disease) have made my liver recover. I had some necrosis, but the liver can regenerate in time. But it also has to constantly deal with every chemical stress your body encounters, and it uses vitamins and minerals to do it.

Don't mess with chance - get a second reading in awhile because one liver panel is not as reliable as 2 over a time span. Take care you are not exposing yourself unessesarily to hazardous chemicals that can make it harder for your liver to recover.

**Stella** · February 27, 2007, 04:57 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Hi Boonie - I did not get the test yet and I really didn't want to because my blood work prior to Atkins had very #'s (mid-range) on both levels. AST was 19 (ideal 0-33) ALT was 25 (ideal 0-45)

Thank you for the advice - I will have it retested. Hearing about the chemical stressors on the liver is interesting. I hadn't though of that before starting this WOE.

Glad you are feeling better! Good to hear from someone successful with this WOE and IMPROVED liver function.

Thank you!

**biogeek** · February 27, 2007, 05:26 PM

Re: Very High Liver Enzymes

Originally posted by boonie stomper

Stella.... have you got the test results back re. Hepatitis? That definately causes elevated ALT-AST ratio and fatigue. It takes extra good nutritional support to allow an injured liver to recover more quickly, which would explain why Atkins dieters typically have good levels.

My thoughts exactly! That's why asked about how tired she was. It was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read her post.

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Very High Liver Enzymes

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