What Does Slightly Elevated Liver Enzymes Mean? PYHP 041

What Are Liver Enzymes?

Liver Enzymes are made by cells throughout the body but are found in highest concentrations in liver cells. These enzymes are found inside liver cells, so when the concentration is elevated in the blood, usually indicates liver cells (hepatocytes) are inflamed, damaged for dying. Below is a list of the four common liver enzymes that are routinely tested on an annual basis or monitored due to certain medications, such as Statin drugs and acetaminophen.

Liver Enzymes: 

• Alanine transaminase (ALT) / Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) 
• Aspartate transaminase (AST) / Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) 
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
• Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)

Liver Enzyme Reference Range: (Quest Diagnostics)

Liver Enzyme Test

AST

ALT

6 – 29 U/L

33 – 130 U/L

GGT

3 – 95 U/L

3 – 70 U/L

Something we have consistently observed with our patients over the past ten years is slightly elevated liver enzymes. Specifically, a slight elevation to AST and ALT.   

For example, on a routine Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), a woman will have an AST level of 54 U/L and an ALT level of 47 U/L. Both enzymes are slightly outside the normal range, but this often gets blown off by the primary care physician because the liver enzyme levels are not high enough to indicate major a concern. However, if the enzymes levels were in the hundreds, then the doctor would do some follow-up testing for some liver disease like Hepatitis.

Slightly elevated liver enzymes is an indication of having a fatty liver.  Most people do not even know they...