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Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Feb; 65(2): 253–259.
Published online 2007 Aug 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2007.03001.x
PMCID: PMC2291230
Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men
Jonas Pettersson, Ulf Hindorf, Paula Persson, Thomas Bengtsson, Ulf Malmqvist,1 Viktoria Werkström,1 and Mats Ekelund2
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Abstract
Aim
To investigate the effect of intensive muscular exercise (weightlifting) on clinical chemistry parameters reflecting liver function in healthy men.
Methods: Fifteen healthy men, used to moderate physical activity not including weightlifting, performed an 1 h long weightlifting programme. Blood was sampled for clinical chemistry parameters [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin] at repeated intervals during 7 days postexercise and at a follow-up examination 10–12 days postexercise.
Results: Five out of eight studied clinical chemistry parameters
(AST, ALT, LD, CK and myoglobin) increased significantly after exercise[/B] (P < 0.01) and remained increased for at least 7 days postexercise.
Bilirubin, γGT and ALP remained within the normal range.
Note (Mike Arnold): Kidney markers such as Bilirubin and creatine kinase are often elevated, particularly in high volume-frequency trainers.
Conclusion: The liver function parameters, AST and ALT, were significantly increased for at least 7 days after the exercise. In addition, LD and, in particular, CK and myoglobin showed highly elevated levels. These findings highlight the importance of imposing restrictions on weightlifting prior to and during clinical studies. Intensive muscular exercise, e.g. weightlifting, should also be considered as a cause of asymptomatic elevations of liver function tests in daily clinical practice.
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/