Elevated AST (Liver Enzymes) and Thyroid connection?

[Levo50]

Hi

My blood results over the last 3 months have shown elevated AST (above higher level) ... frustratingly I believe most people automatically associate this with excess alcohol consumption (my mother included).

I have been googling and came across this article which mentioned the Thyroid nchmd.org/education/mayo-he...

I have had a swelling / fullness feeling under my right rib for a while which seems to have eased more recently.

I wondered if anyone has any knowledge, advice or guidance at all?

[Girlslovescifi]

I have had higher than normal alkaline phosphatase for several years. Not the one that reacted to alcohol. I’ve had a Dexa scan and other blood tests. No one can figure it out but they’re not worried. They just keep checking it. I can’t help wondering if it’s something to do with being hypo or the medication.

[Levo50 in reply to Girlslovescifi]

Thank you for your reply. So disheartening isn’t it! This is the third times my levels have been elevated and not been followed up, but I’m not going away until I get somewhere!

[knitwitty]

My son had elevated liver enzymes prior to being diagnosed coeliac, it is not very well known by many medics, I had an argument ( well not really and argument more like a heated discussion with a doctor) when my son went for a follow up appointment following a gastroscopy. The doctor denied any knowledge of elevated liver enzymes being associated with coeliac disease, so I showed her the BMJ article about it on my phone which she dismissed ( fortunately I have a very good friend who is a GP who found that article, she freely admitted she didn't know anything about raised liver enzymes either and she had been a GP for 30 years, fortunately she's not so arrogant to suggest she knows everything there is to know about everything medical ! )

My son's liver enzymes returned to normal a few weeks after he had been following a completely Gluten free diet.

Maybe , if you are not already gluten free , ask for a coeliac blood test you have nothing to lose.

[Levo50 in reply to knitwitty]

How frustrating, I’ve actually had a home test for Coeliac which was negative, I tried gluten free but felt very down over a week and didn’t notice any benefits so I stopped, I may need to revisit but I’m hoping to speak to the Doc after sending my personal blood report through with 🚩 to see whether it’s followed up. I’ll also mention to my Endo on Friday, hopefully someone will listen and act, brilliant news your sons liver enzymes returned to normal that’s so reassuring thank you and well don’t fighting his corner 👏

[knitwitty in reply to Levo50]

Good luck with your doctor I hope all goes well.If you do have a coeliac blood test via the doctor it's recommended the you eat plenty of gluten containing products every day for about 6 weeks before the blood test.

My son didn't feel any measurable physical and mental benefits for many months after going gluten free as I think he had been suffering from coeliac for a few years prior to his diagnosis. With him it took a long time for his gut to heal so going gluten free isn't always a quick fix.

All the best for getting to the bottom of your liver problems.

[Levo50]

Agreed, it’s frightening how little ‘General’ practitioners know isn’t it! I don’t drink much alcohol and I’ve had a fairly healthy diet until more recently with the pandemic and general life’s family ill health, I’ll keep on chasing, I’ve put together a comprehensive blood report and sent it through so the Doc may see where I’m at with comparisons and 🚩lol

[Serendipitious]

A lot of problems with the thyroid can result due to having poor digestion and elimination. This includes liver issues and it doesn’t always have to be overt pathology. The liver processes our hormones so if this isn’t working effectively it can affect digestion and thyroid hormone conversion.

There’s a section in Dr Izabella Wentz’s book that explains how to improve liver health. However you might find this helpful:

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[Levo50 in reply to Serendipitious]

Thank you - makes sense, I’m sure I felt healthier before I became my own health care advocate!

Very interesting reading, I have the book actually, I’m sure this would help I need to get my mindset ready to eliminate all these foods from my diet and still be able to function socially / professionally without appearing glum!

[Serendipitious in reply to Levo50]

I bought the book when it was first released read it and then forgot about it. Revisiting certain sections especially the liver protocol chapter has been useful for me. Good luck.

[grumpyold]

About 5 years ago a routine blood test showed that I had raised liver enzymes. I, too, was also getting upper right quadrant pain.

My GP referred me to a gastroenterologist and he sent me for a Fibroscan.I was told that I had fatty liver with severe scarring, consistent with stage 4 liver cirrhosis. (I don't drink either.) I found this very hard to believe because I didn't feel bad and had no symptoms of severe liver problems, just slightly raised enzymes.

14 months later, I was called back for a follow up Fibroscan and told that the first one was wrong, it was poor quality and that the scarring on my liver and the NAFLD was nowhere near as severe. That explained why I didn't feel bad! The upper right quadrant pain was also gone by this point.

I began taking choline with inisitol every morning.

Last October I was again called for a 3rd Fibroscan which showed that the fat in my liver had reduced significantly and that it was now at a "normal" level.

I think that 3 years of taking choline with inisitol has helped reduce the fat.

Also, when I was found to have the raised liver enzymes, my free T3 was at rock bottom, though this only came to light long after. I believe this could have been a contributing factor.

I recently had a coeliac test which was negative.

It's so complicated isn't it?

I hope you get to the bottom of your raised enzymes.

x

[Levo50 in reply to grumpyold]

Thank you for your reply, it makes me feel a little better, I’m speaking to my Endo tomorrow and GP Monday so fingers crossed. I’m pleased you are feeling better now .. and yes it is all so very complicated (and draining). Off to google choline with inositol 😂

[Hidden]

I had that at one point and the doctor immediately assumed I was drinking too much...I then came across an article about a supplement called Liv 52 I decided to try it. Within two months, all my lab results returned to normal. I have continued to take the supplement, only now I take 2 pills daily (maintenance) instead of 4 (intensive use) as I think a little liver support can never hurt...I really find Liv 52 to be an excellent supplement, and inexpensive at that.

[Levo50 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much, I will look into Liv 52 for sure x