Hi, just had my bloods done and it's come back with a raised liver function test, i've been told it's at 49 and should be at 41, the question is 41 what? the Dr didn't explain it or wouldn't or didn't know my nurse didn't know all i get is it tells you how your liver is functioning, Dah they know as much as me so could anyone explain please?
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blood test ( liver markers)
- Thread starter ikoz
- Start Date
NoCrbs4Me
Well-Known Member
Probably Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), which is in UI/L. https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alt/tab/test/
It's a really good idea to get a print out of all your lab tests so you can review them at home when you have some time and access to Google.
I reduced my ALT from 62 to 19 with a low carb/high fat diet. I've read that an ALT above 39 is a strong indication of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and that a value below 27 likely means no NAFLD.
It's a really good idea to get a print out of all your lab tests so you can review them at home when you have some time and access to Google.
I reduced my ALT from 62 to 19 with a low carb/high fat diet. I've read that an ALT above 39 is a strong indication of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and that a value below 27 likely means no NAFLD.
Bluetit1802
Legend
According to my lab reports, the normal standard for ALT is 3 to 53.
I can't see anything to do with the liver that should be at 41, so I can't understand what you mean.
I agree you need to get a print out of your test results. It will tell you exactly what you want to know on there, and if you don't understand you can copy it here and we will help you.
I can't see anything to do with the liver that should be at 41, so I can't understand what you mean.
I agree you need to get a print out of your test results. It will tell you exactly what you want to know on there, and if you don't understand you can copy it here and we will help you.
NoCrbs4Me
Well-Known Member
My lab here in Canada says 1 to 60 is normal.
This doctor claims that the ALT range you see on the lab test results is based on looking at a group of patients that include diabetics and that if diabetics are excluded, the range is much lower (<20 for women and <30 for men):
I thought this sounded interesting, so I did a Pubmed search to see if I could refute or confirm what she claimed and I found this:
"Peaks of alanine aminotransferase distribution among the normal subjects were seen at 16-20 IU/L and 11-15 IU/L in males and females, respectively."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12630015
"Conclusion: In our study, the upper limit of the healthy range of the serum ALT level was 31 IU/L for males and 23 IU/L for females."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21261719
However, I think this is the paper she was referring to:
"In summary, the ULN (upper limit of normal) for serum ALT reported by clinical laboratories usually reflects characteristics of the local reference population, a population that was not screened for risk factors for fatty liver disease in our study. Differences among analyzers provided by different manufacturers play only a modest role in different ULN values from different laboratories whereas laboratory proficiency does not play a role. The implication of this finding for clinical practice is that the ULN for ALT reported by clinical laboratories that accompanies test results may not be reliable for identifying patients with unsuspected liver disease when the ULN is substantially above the proposed healthy range for ALT of 30 U/L for men and 19 U/L for women." and "Until this is done, clinicians might identify patients with liver disease more consistently by using absolute values (such as 40 U/L) for the upper normal upper range of ALT rather than relying on laboratory-specified reference ranges."
Both quotes from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670191/
Perhaps ikoz's doctor has read this paper, too.
This doctor claims that the ALT range you see on the lab test results is based on looking at a group of patients that include diabetics and that if diabetics are excluded, the range is much lower (<20 for women and <30 for men):
I thought this sounded interesting, so I did a Pubmed search to see if I could refute or confirm what she claimed and I found this:
"Peaks of alanine aminotransferase distribution among the normal subjects were seen at 16-20 IU/L and 11-15 IU/L in males and females, respectively."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12630015
"Conclusion: In our study, the upper limit of the healthy range of the serum ALT level was 31 IU/L for males and 23 IU/L for females."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21261719
However, I think this is the paper she was referring to:
"In summary, the ULN (upper limit of normal) for serum ALT reported by clinical laboratories usually reflects characteristics of the local reference population, a population that was not screened for risk factors for fatty liver disease in our study. Differences among analyzers provided by different manufacturers play only a modest role in different ULN values from different laboratories whereas laboratory proficiency does not play a role. The implication of this finding for clinical practice is that the ULN for ALT reported by clinical laboratories that accompanies test results may not be reliable for identifying patients with unsuspected liver disease when the ULN is substantially above the proposed healthy range for ALT of 30 U/L for men and 19 U/L for women." and "Until this is done, clinicians might identify patients with liver disease more consistently by using absolute values (such as 40 U/L) for the upper normal upper range of ALT rather than relying on laboratory-specified reference ranges."
Both quotes from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670191/
Perhaps ikoz's doctor has read this paper, too.
Indy51
Expert
Ideal ranges seem to vary a lot between countries. On my old tests ideal for ALT is 5-30. GGT is another measurement that can be associated with NAFLD and the ideal range for that is 5-35. There are 8 factors (AST, ALT, Alk Phos, GGT, Bilirubin, Protein, Albumin, Globulin) in total that make up the liver function test, so it would be a good idea to find out which one is involved.
Bluetit1802
Legend
On my lab reports the GGT standard is 0 to 65.
Personally I'm happy as both ALT and GGT are low.
