Alt levels in liver

[Tiatilly]

I have stopped drinking alcohol for last 6 weeks & lost 12lbs but my recent blood tests show my ALT level had increased from 42 to 68. I don’t understand why

[BigRedDBA]

This is a trivial fluctuation. Mild elevations are generally considered to be two to three times the ULN. With some liver diseases, the level can exceed 50 times the ULN. Levels this high are described as deranged. Don't worry unless it stays consistently high, even then, that reading would only trigger the doctor to test more frequently.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Tiatilly

I'm afraid I know nothing about ALT levels and would suggest that's a question best put to your GP.

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Wishing you all the best

[Irisisme Maintainer]

Hi Tiatilly,

There are lots of things that affect the liver, not just alcohol. You have done the best thing ever for your liver by giving up alcohol but even giving up and cutting down on fats can cause a fluctuations, just about anything can.

Like BigRed says, the rise really is trivial. My main problem is Ovarian Cancer (currently under control) but all the chemo & drugs raised my liver enzymes well beyond the ‘norm’. I have a non-alcohol fatty liver and biliary sludge (apparently) but the consultants are never worried unless the bilirubin is raised. That is what indicates irreversible liver damage.

Don’t worry but keep up the good work. The liver may be one of only two body organs that can repair itself (skin being the other) but it’s best not to over-tax it!

Good Luck and have the best Christmas you can without stressing that liver of yours!

Iris 😉

[Tiatilly in reply to Irisisme]

Thank you for the reply, it is reassuring that the levels are not really high, I just don’t know why they have gone up but I am having another test in a month and if they are still riding the GP said she will refer to liver specialist

[Eryl Visitor]

Have you replaced the alcohol with some other drink or made any other dietary changes?

[Tiatilly in reply to Eryl]

I have changed my diet and cut out sugar, reduced red meat and eating more vegetables.I also have IBS and was eating quite a lot of fruit but this seems to aggravate it

[Eryl Visitor]

Fruit contains fructose which can only be metabolised by the liver and causes similar damage to alcohol. I restrict myself to one portion of fruit per day.

IBS can be aggrevated if not caused by the emulsifiers in processed food.