Accurate Liver Testing

[TheChosenOne]

I just wanted to start this thread to make sure everyone that gets blood work done knows how to get an accurate reading on there AST and ALT. Most of the time we think of elevated AST and ALT being a result of toxic oral medicine or drinking alcohol. However, that's not always the case. It has actually been known for a long time that physical exercise can cause these levels to be elevated. I bring this up, because I've noticed a lot of posts on several boards about elevated liver enzymes. It is clear to me that they don't realize exercise could be the cause of the problem. In fact, many doctors don't even know. Try asking your own doctor and see what they say. It seems that the type of exercise that causes the most elevation in these enzymes is the "NEW" exercises. It comes from the type of exercise that causes muscles to be sore. Like if you've been out of the gym for a while and just start back. Also, switching to a new routine may cause elevated enzymes. I know from my own personal experience, every time I've gotten bloods done with sore muscles the liver enzymes were elevated. There have been several studies done on this subject, here is the best one I could find http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/pdf/bcp0065-0253.pdf

The next time you have blood work done you should avoid going in with sore muscles. Don't do any "NEW" exercises for at least a week before bloods. There is no definitive answer at the moment as to why this happens. However, I would like to speculate that, the same enzymes our liver produces (ALT, AST) when damaged, are also produced by our damaged muscles.

 

[halfwit]

Interesting, I wonder if this is due to lactic acid buildup being filtered by the liver. I do know that dehydration before a test can alter these values as well. Great post!

 

[TheChosenOne]

Interesting, I wonder if this is due to lactic acid buildup being filtered by the liver. I do know that dehydration before a test can alter these values as well. Great post!

I have also heard that dehydration can further increase these levels. That is probably why marathon runners have extremely high AST and ALT levels a few days after the race. They have a combination of extremely sore muscles and dehydration. I know for me, the creatinine and BUN level are higher when I'm dehydrated. With my high protein diet I have to drink lots of water to keep my creatinine and BUN levels in the normal range.

 

[halfwit]

I have also heard the dehydration can further increase these levels. That is probably why marathon runners have extremely high AST and ALT levels a few days after the race. They have a combination of extremely sore muscles and dehydration. I know for me, the creatinine and BUN level are higher when I'm dehydrated. With my high protein diet I have to drink lots of water to keep my creatinine and BUN levels in the normal range.

Lol, Creatinine/BUN ratio is actually how a physician knows you're not drinking enough water, so that's definitely not a myth. I can't imagine what these marathon guys have for numbers after a race!

 

[3ct]

"An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. AST is normally found in red blood cells, liver, heart, muscle tissue, pancreas, and kidneys. AST formerly was called serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT).

Low levels of AST are normally found in the blood. When body tissue or an organ such as the heart or liver is diseased or damaged, additional AST is released into the bloodstream. The amount of AST in the blood is directly related to the extent of the tissue damage"
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Test and Results

So from the above it sounds like, when you workout you're tearing down your muscle fibers and because AST exists in muscle tissue, it's probably released into your blood stream.

Below, I found this from another forum, not sure how accurate it is since it's not from a published study or credible source, just something somebody said but, makes sense to me.

Transaminase is the T in AST/ALT.

"Transaminase levels are indicators of liver cell damage. They can also be indicators of muscle cell damage, such as what happens from lifting heavy. Also transaminase levels are not liver function tests but indicators of inflammation of the liver. If you are doing heavy lifting you can drive your ALT level way up. To tell if the elevated ALT is from muscle cell damage and not liver cell damage you need to also check GGT, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. If GGT and ALT are elevated then you have liver dysfunction. "

 

[TheChosenOne]

Just wanted to bump this thread back to the top so more people could see it. Also, if anyone happens to ask there doctor if they have ever heard of exercise raising AST and ALT levels, I would love to hear their responses. There are four doctors at the practice I go to, and none of them had a clue.

 

[swim15]

Just got bloods done yesterday and my ALT/AST were slightly out of range...I have been off cycle for a while and do not drink but had had two HEAVY ass workouts the two days before the labs. My doc was concerned and I am waiting for him to call me but I definitely think it was from my workouts

 

[TheChosenOne]

Just got bloods done yesterday and my ALT/AST were slightly out of range...I have been off cycle for a while and do not drink but had had two HEAVY ass workouts the two days before the labs. My doc was concerned and I am waiting for him to call me but I definitely think it was from my workouts

Just don't let him send you in for a liver biopsy over that shit. Get retested after your muscle soreness goes away and ask him if he realizes exercise can cause that.

I went in for bloods last month and my AST was twice the upper limit. AST-81 ALT-75. My doc told me to wait 2-3 weeks then get retested. I told my doctor that my liver was fine and it was from sore muscles. The doc said "No, that's not it." . So I came back and took the test in 5 days instead. Everything was back to normal and the nurse called me and said ,"Well, I guess you quit taking whatever it was you were taking because your liver is fine now."
That really pissed me off. I may be switching docs soon.

 

[halfwit]

Just don't let him send you in for a liver biopsy over that shit. Get retested after your muscle soreness goes away and ask him if he realizes exercise can cause that.

I went in for bloods last month and my AST was twice the upper limit. AST-81 ALT-75. My doc told me to wait 2-3 weeks then get retested. I told my doctor that my liver was fine and it was from sore muscles. The doc said "No, that's not it." . So I came back and took the test in 5 days instead. Everything was back to normal and the nurse called me and said ,"Well, I guess you quit taking whatever it was you were taking because your liver is fine now."
That really pissed me off. I may be switching docs soon.

Gotta love know-it-all docs. Even though my doctor is a bit of a chickenshit when it comes to prescribing certain drugs (read: AI/HCG), I love the fact that he listens to what I have to say. Fuck those old school bastards that think we don't have the ability to research on our own - welcome to the internet age fellas.

I hope you set his ass straight man.

 

[Schweddy]

I have always suspected this. What levels are cause for concern?

 

[TheChosenOne]

I have always suspected this. What levels are cause for concern?

If you haven't worked out in over a week, and your AST and ALT are still elevated, then you should be concerned about the health of your liver. Just make note of any muscle soreness you might have when getting blood drawn. Excessive soreness is sure to cause elevated levels.

 

[Ak907]

I just wanted to start this thread to make sure everyone that gets blood work done knows how to get an accurate reading on there AST and ALT. Most of the time we think of elevated AST and ALT being a result of toxic oral medicine or drinking alcohol. However, that's not always the case. It has actually been known for a long time that physical exercise can cause these levels to be elevated. I bring this up, because I've noticed a lot of posts on several boards about elevated liver enzymes. It is clear to me that they don't realize exercise could be the cause of the problem. In fact, many doctors don't even know. Try asking your own doctor and see what they say. It seems that the type of exercise that causes the most elevation in these enzymes is the "NEW" exercises. It comes from the type of exercise that causes muscles to be sore. Like if you've been out of the gym for a while and just start back. Also, switching to a new routine may cause elevated enzymes. I know from my own personal experience, every time I've gotten bloods done with sore muscles the liver enzymes were elevated. There have been several studies done on this subject, here is the best one I could find ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/pdf/bcp0065-0253.pdf

The next time you have blood work done you should avoid going in with sore muscles. Don't do any "NEW" exercises for at least a week before bloods. There is no definitive answer at the moment as to why this happens. However, I would like to speculate that, the same enzymes our liver produces (ALT, AST) when damaged, are also produced by our damaged muscles.

I am really glad you posted this!! I went in for pre blood work before I planned of starting my Test cycle, to see if everything is ok and my liver enzymes were slightly elevated. Of cource I start to do research and everything pointed to Hep C virus which really freaked me out. I have been with the same partner for some time now and I was married before that so I knew that wasnt the case but I got tested anyway to make sure. The doctor asked me if I was a drinker and I said no, I quite drinking years ago.. So at that point I was lost! But after reading this post I realized I started running for the fist time in years and I have been using these new barefoot running shoes which at the time I got my bloodwork done I was in allot of pain in my legs due to the new style of running. I am thinking after reading the article that this could have been the cause. I actually ran about a two miles before I showed up to get the blood work done.

Thanks again for this awesome post!!

 

[Ak907]

Just wanted to bump this thread back to the top so more people could see it. Also, if anyone happens to ask there doctor if they have ever heard of exercise raising AST and ALT levels, I would love to hear their responses. There are four doctors at the practice I go to, and none of them had a clue.

I am going to send the article link to my doctor, I will keep everyone posted on what he says!

 

[Chi23]

Just wanted to bump this thread back to the top so more people could see it. Also, if anyone happens to ask there doctor if they have ever heard of exercise raising AST and ALT levels, I would love to hear their responses. There are four doctors at the practice I go to, and none of them had a clue.

I had acute liver failure, and my doctors actually mentioned this to me as a reason for my future tests to be elevated after my recovery. At the time i was out of the gym due to injuries for a few weeks prior to being diagnosed so it wasnt an issue.

For what its worth though, no doctor could even figure out what was wrong with me till i went into the ER with my levels at "total failure". Which i was then transferred to an ICU nearby that thankfully specialized in hepatology. It was my liver specialists that did mention the relation of exercise to elevated levels.

 

[TheChosenOne]

I am really glad you posted this!! I went in for pre blood work before I planned of starting my Test cycle, to see if everything is ok and my liver enzymes were slightly elevated. Of cource I start to do research and everything pointed to Hep C virus which really freaked me out. I have been with the same partner for some time now and I was married before that so I knew that wasnt the case but I got tested anyway to make sure. The doctor asked me if I was a drinker and I said no, I quite drinking years ago.. So at that point I was lost! But after reading this post I realized I started running for the fist time in years and I have been using these new barefoot running shoes which at the time I got my bloodwork done I was in allot of pain in my legs due to the new style of running. I am thinking after reading the article that this could have been the cause. I actually ran about a two miles before I showed up to get the blood work done.

Thanks again for this awesome post!!

I'm glad it helped you out.