What does it mean when ALT and AST are high?

ALT stands for alanine transaminase, which is another type of liver enzyme. If you have high levels of AST and/or ALT, it may mean that you have some type of liver damage. You may also have an AST test as part of a group of liver function tests that measure ALT, and other enzymes, proteins, and substances in the liver.

What does it mean when your ALT is elevated?

When liver cells are damaged, they release ALT into the bloodstream. An ALT test measures the amount of ALT in the blood. High levels of ALT in the blood can indicate a liver problem, even before you have signs of liver disease, such as jaundice, a condition that causes your skin and eyes to turn yellow.

What does it mean if AST is higher than ALT?

What does it mean when AST is higher than ALT? An AST/ALT ratio higher than one (where the AST is higher than ALT) is suggestive of cirrhosis. An AST/ALT ratio higher than 2:1 (where the AST is more than twice as high as the ALT) is suggestive of alcoholic liver disease.

What does increased ALT and AST indicate?

Since the increased levels of AST and ALT suggest the liver is inflamed, patients could try ways to lower the levels by first stopping any form of alcohol intake, followed by doing regular exercises and maintaining a balanced diet with sufficient portions of whole grains, leafy green vegetables, and dairy products.

What causes high AST and Alt?

an unhealthy diet in particular,eating high levels of saturated fat

  • smoking; a chemical called acrolin,found in cigarettes,stops HDL transporting cholesterol from fatty deposits to the liver,leading to narrowing of the arteries
  • having diabetes or high blood pressure
  • having a family history of stroke or heart disease
  • What does a low ALT and AST signify?

    What does low ALT and AST mean? An AST/ALT ratio of less than one (where the ALT is significantly higher than the AST) means you may have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. An AST/ALT ratio equal to one (where the ALT is equal to the AST) may be a sign of acute viral hepatitis or drug-related liver toxicity..