Liver values above normal

[AWN2004]

I got my blood work back today and I was a little shocked actually. Everything was pretty normal except my liver vlaues were elevated. My AST was 44 and my ALT was 55. I have not been on anything for weeks and I dont drink or take any over the counter meds like advil or anything. What gives?? I understand the higher protein levels can mess them up but I use a milk thistle supp year round. Maybe I am making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I didnt think my live would be stressed at all. Anyone else have this happen to them? I used some d-bol in August for only 4 weeks but thats it. Those were the only 17aa orals I have used in the last several months. Any feedback is appreciated.
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[PHIL HERNON]

FOR YOU

THAT MIGHT BE NORMAL. WATCH TRENDS, BIG JUMPS, THEN INVESTIGATE FARTHER. FIRST, BEFORE YOU LISTEN TO ME, TELL DOCTOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

 

[AWN2004]

Thanks Phil. Normal high end range is 40 for both so Im just slightly elevated. Never can be too cautious though in my opinion.

 

[Sigmund Roid]

When I have had mine done they were always slightly elevated.

this was true if I had blood work done very soon after my last dosage. My values were normal if I waited 6-8 weeks until it was time for my next course. Perhaps you haven't cleared out completely? I am no expert in this area.

 

[zephyr22]

That is a slight elevation....

However you are taking steroids. This does cause the liver to work overtime. This is normal. However if you have been off for say 2 to 3 months and they cont to be elevated then there may be a problem. Also do as Phil said tell your doctor the truth. That we he/she knows why they are elevated and how to treat you. This stops the BS that comes along with a missed diagnosis. Good luck.

 

[AWN2004]

its only been like 3 weeks or so since I used anything. I did some research on the net and it seems depending on what lab does the work...my values seem to be somewhat normal. The ALT is the one you really need to be worried about though...as it mainly dictates how much stress your liver is under. AST values increase when other tissues are stressed including muscle, heart, ect. Most people who train will have slightly elevated AST levels anyway......due to muscle break down from training.

 

[mike ross]

FIRST, BEFORE YOU LISTEN TO ME, TELL DOCTOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

the words of a smart man....use the first test as your baseline, then get another test in about 90 days and see if there are any differences. also, add cysteine or n-acetyl-cysteine to your supplement regimen. works well with the liver and take a b-complex vitamin as well.

 

[Otis T Holbrook]

Back off training a few days before your next test. I read someplace that training will cause an elevation in some people.

 

[JAG]

I agree with advise above. I have the same problem. Here is something I found when researching problem:

I will assume you're lifting weights. So your ALT and AST are probably just fine from your liver values. Those two enzymes are also released by your muscles when you work them lifting weights. There is no way for the lab to know where the ALT and AST is coming from. They can only tell you your bloodlevels and in a weight lifter that is not a complete way to test liver values. They should test GGT to determine if your values are indeed to high.

Clin J Sport Med. 1999 Jan;9(1):34-9. Related Articles, Links


Anabolic steroid-induced hepatotoxicity: is it overstated?

Dickerman RD, Pertusi RM, Zachariah NY, Dufour DR, McConathy WJ.

The Department of Biomedical Science, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth 76107-2699, USA.

OBJECTIVE: There have been numerous reports of hepatic dysfunction secondary to anabolic steroid use based on elevated levels of serum aminotransferases. This study was conducted to distinguish between serum aminotransaminase elevations secondary to intense resistance training and anabolic steroid-induced hepatotoxicity in elite bodybuilders. DESIGN: This was a case-control study of serum chemistry profiles from bodybuilders using and not using anabolic steroids with comparisons to a cohort of medical students and patients with hepatitis. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were bodybuilders taking self-directed regimens of anabolic steroids (n = 15) and bodybuilders not taking steroids (n = 10). Blood chemistry profiles from patients with viral hepatitis (n = 49) and exercising and nonexercising medical students (592) were used as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The focus in blood chemistry profiles was aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and creatine kinase (CK) levels. RESULTS: In both groups of bodybuilders, CK, AST, and ALT were elevated, whereas GGT remained in the normal range. In contrast, patients with hepatitis had elevations of all three enzymes: ALT, AST, and GGT. Creatine kinase (CK) was elevated in all exercising groups. Patients with hepatitis were the only group in which a correlation was found between aminotransferases and GGT. CONCLUSION: Prior reports of anabolic steroid-induced hepatotoxicity based on elevated aminotransferase levels may have been overstated, because no exercising subjects, including steroid users, demonstrated hepatic dysfunction based on GGT levels. Such reports may have misled the medical community to emphasize steroid-induced hepatotoxicity when interpreting elevated aminotransferase levels and disregard muscle damage. For these reasons, when evaluating hepatic function in cases of anabolic steroid therapy or abuse, CK and GGT levels should be considered in addition to ALT and AST levels as essential elements of the assessment.

I would also recommend a good over the counter liver detoxifier such as milk thistle or one such as this **broken link removed**

 

[PharmD27]

FYI, liver function tests (LFT's) don't always test really for your liver function. In other words, they're not very specific for liver damage. You realistically shouldn't wurry until they get to be 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (2.5x ULN)

 

[longhorn814]

When I got out of grad school about 3 years ago, my AST levels were 173!!! Apparently caused by a bit too much drinking in college. Had blood work done a few months later and the values had returned to normal. The liver is quite a resilient organ. If your values are high, give it a break from whatever youre doing and the values should return to normal in a short time.