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What Do My Liver Enzyme Values Indicate?
Question: My alt is 88 and my ast is 55... kind of out of the blue. I have very high cholesterol 287 and has been for some time and my sugar fasting is 110. I am cutting out alcohol and starting a diet and exercise plan and getting a sonogram next week. Are these enzymes something that should come down in the next 30 days with the right food and exercise and do they indicate severe damage or mildly elevated due to lifestyle?
Brief Answer:
Enzymes are only marginally elevated- probably from alcohol.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome to HCM forum.
I have gone through your query in detail and understand your concerns.
It will be fine if you can clarify few questions- Are you obese? Are you on any regular medications?Also, conditions like vigorous exercise, intramuscular injections and some drugs also can cause elevation of liver enzymes.
Your liver enzymes values are elevated, but only marginally. This need not be worried too much.
This can be caused by alcohol itself or from steatosis/fatty liver(usually caused by alcohol or obesity). The later condition can be detected in sonogram. This does not indicate severe liver damage, and can be well reversed to normal by correction of the underlying cause like abstinence from alcohol and control of obesity.
Your fasting sugar is in the upper normal range(normal is <110 ;>126 is diabetes)) and total cholesterol is high(normal value is<220). A detailed lipid profile will give us a better idea. Both these conditions will usually respond to a trial of lifestyle management(diet modification and regular exercise). If the trial fails, we may need drug treatment too.
Kindly follow up with and stick on to your doctor's advice.
Meanwhile, reduce intake of calories and fat(especially of non veg origin); increase proportion of green leafy veggies and fruits. Do regular moderate exercise.
Be free to ask further questions if any.
Wishing you good health.
Thank you.
Enzymes are only marginally elevated- probably from alcohol.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome to HCM forum.
I have gone through your query in detail and understand your concerns.
It will be fine if you can clarify few questions- Are you obese? Are you on any regular medications?Also, conditions like vigorous exercise, intramuscular injections and some drugs also can cause elevation of liver enzymes.
Your liver enzymes values are elevated, but only marginally. This need not be worried too much.
This can be caused by alcohol itself or from steatosis/fatty liver(usually caused by alcohol or obesity). The later condition can be detected in sonogram. This does not indicate severe liver damage, and can be well reversed to normal by correction of the underlying cause like abstinence from alcohol and control of obesity.
Your fasting sugar is in the upper normal range(normal is <110 ;>126 is diabetes)) and total cholesterol is high(normal value is<220). A detailed lipid profile will give us a better idea. Both these conditions will usually respond to a trial of lifestyle management(diet modification and regular exercise). If the trial fails, we may need drug treatment too.
Kindly follow up with and stick on to your doctor's advice.
Meanwhile, reduce intake of calories and fat(especially of non veg origin); increase proportion of green leafy veggies and fruits. Do regular moderate exercise.
Be free to ask further questions if any.
Wishing you good health.
Thank you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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