Understanding Your Liver Function Test
Did you also check your Liver Function Test recently? What did the doctor say? Did they mention that ALT and AST are high? So now, do you really know what these ALT, AST or otherwise SGPT, SGOT mean? Alright, let’s look at this simply and clearly.
📝 The Basics of the Test
First, when a doctor tells you to do a Liver Function Test, do you know what kind of sample you need to give to the lab?
For a Liver Function Test, they take a blood sample from us.
Then, after checking your blood sample, you get the test results in your hand. But sometimes you don’t really understand what’s written there, right?
Okay, so let’s try to understand simply what these things actually mean.
🔬 What is included in a Liver Function Test?
- ALT – Alanine Aminotransferase
- AST – Aspartate Aminotransferase
- ALP – Alkaline Phosphatase
- GGT – Gamma Glutamyl Transferase
- Total Bilirubin
- Direct Bilirubin
- Albumin
- Total Protein
These are the main components usually included.
🧬 Understanding the Enzymes
ALT is an enzyme mainly found in the liver, and in smaller amounts in the kidneys and heart. This enzyme is necessary for the breakdown of amino acids in our body. This process also helps generate energy in liver cells. Since this enzyme is present in liver cells, if liver cells are damaged or destroyed for any reason, the level of ALT in our blood rises.
AST is also an enzyme. It is found in the liver, heart, muscles, kidneys, and brain. This enzyme also contributes to amino acid breakdown, and when its level in the blood increases, it is usually recognized as a sign of tissue damage.
ALP is an enzyme that, like the others, helps in the breakdown of proteins in the body. This enzyme is found mostly in the liver, but also in the bones, intestines, kidneys, and even during pregnancy in mothers. So, if your ALP level is high in the blood, it can be due to various causes.
GGT enzyme is mainly found in the liver, bile ducts, and kidneys. This enzyme helps in breaking down and transporting amino acids. When this enzyme increases in the blood, it indicates that there is some problem with the liver, bile ducts, or kidneys. By measuring this, we can understand how well the liver is functioning.
📊 Normal Levels and What They Mean
In this context, AST and ALT levels are important to know.
- ALT: < 43
- AST: < 35
These values are considered normal, and if the levels are within this range, it generally indicates no major liver problem.
In conditions like fatty liver, ALT and AST levels can increase depending on the stage.
Similarly, in alcoholic liver disease, both ALT and AST increase, but usually AST > ALT.
In cases of drug-induced liver injury or viral hepatitis, both AST and ALT can increase significantly.
When looking at lipid profile results alongside these enzymes, it can help identify if there is an underlying liver disease. Monitoring AST and ALT levels is important for assessing liver health.
These are the main points that need to be considered carefully to understand the liver condition properly.
Stay Tuned with our Prana Sathkara Program’s article series to learn more about health issues like these and many more.
