What is ALT? What Should the ALT Value Be?

Some enzymes in the blood can be used in the investigation of various diseases or current health status.

What is ALT?

Some enzymes in the blood can be used in the investigation of various diseases or current health status. These are the parameters investigated in blood tests, and their detection below or above the reference ranges may indicate some health problems. One of these enzymes, ALT, is the short name for a type of liver enzyme called alanine aminotransferase. The ALT test is one of the most frequently used blood tests, both in routine health screenings and in the investigation of liver diseases.

This test, which is usually done together with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), is a simple blood test and usually results in the same day. It is an enzyme found in liver cells under normal conditions and can only be found in trace amounts in the blood. For this reason, elevated levels in the blood indicate liver damage due to some conditions, especially liver diseases. For this reason, individuals whose ALT results are outside of the normal ranges should definitely consult their physicians and have further diagnostic tests performed for the cause of this condition. is an enzyme. Another name for ALT is glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and it may appear by this name as a result of some blood tests. This enzyme is responsible for subjecting the building blocks obtained as a result of the digestion of food under normal conditions to the necessary metabolic processes in the liver. The presence of the ALT enzyme in the blood, which should be found in the cells of the liver tissue, means a high level of liver damage. The amount found in the normal range in the blood is considered normal due to cell regeneration in the liver and some other effects.

Since it is present in the kidneys and some other organs in small amounts, ALT levels may also increase in some diseases such as cancer, damage and diabetes related to these organs. The degree of elevation in ALT also gives information about the severity of liver damage. But it's worth every Regardless of the level, the result of the ALT test, which is found to be above the reference values, should be shown to the physician and necessary studies should be carried out in line with the physician's recommendations.

What Should the ALT Value be?

Alanine The range of aminotransferase (ALT) testing may differ depending on the individual's health status, gender, and the criteria of the laboratory where the test is performed. However, the values ​​that can be specified as the average reference range are as follows:

• Women: 7-35 U/L
• Men: 10-40 U/L

As reference values Although being below this range does not usually indicate a significant problem, high ALT levels can be an important health problem that needs intervention. The ALT test is one of a group of blood tests, also called liver function tests, and the levels of other blood parameters are also looked at in order to determine the reasons for the high level of this enzyme. These include enzymes such as AST (SGOT), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), GGT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase). Since there are enzymes in the kidneys, bones and some other parts of the body besides the liver, determining which of them is high and which is in the normal range is also effective in determining the organ where the problem originates. ?

In response to the question of what is an ALT test, it can be said that it is a simple blood test. It is a test that can be performed even in most primary health care institutions without requiring advanced laboratories. In routine blood tests performed every 6 months in healthy individuals and more frequently in individuals with liver or cardiovascular diseases, ALT is also included along with other liver function tests. In addition, patients with symptoms suggestive of liver disease should also undergo an ALT test. In general, some of the conditions that require ALT testing are:

• Pain and swelling in the abdomen
• Discomfort in the stomach area
• Unknown itching on the skin surface
• Nausea and vomiting
• Yellowing the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Constant tiredness and low energy
• Dark Since colored urine and light-colored stools

ALT are usually combined with different blood tests, blood samples should be taken in the morning and on an empty stomach, unless otherwise recommended by the physician. It is recommended that patients who use regular medication for any reason report this to their physician and consult their physician before coming to give blood. A blood sample is taken by the nurse and the sample is sent to the laboratory for analysis.

What Does High ALT Mean?

Elevated ALT enzyme can have many different causes. However, the most common of these are liver related causes. Questions such as what is ALT in the blood and what is ALT elevation are frequently asked by people who have this test. Some of the conditions that may cause an elevation of the alanine aminotransferase enzyme are as follows:

• Excessive alcohol use
• Continuous heavy drug use or unconscious drug use
• Liver fat
• Liver cancer
• Liver cysts
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Cholesterol drugs
• Hepatitis A, B and C infections, also known as liver inflammation
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Heart failure

In addition to the above causes, genetic factors must also be taken into account. Individuals with a family history of liver disease are significantly more likely to develop liver diseases and have elevated liver enzymes such as ALT, compared to other individuals. Therefore, routine liver function tests should be performed more frequently in these individuals than in healthy individuals. In this way, possible health problems can be diagnosed at an early stage and their development can be prevented or significantly slowed down.

What Does Low ALT Mean?

As a result of blood tests performed in some people, it can be seen that the ALT level is below the reference value range. . This situation makes no medical sense for healthy individuals and does not require any investigation or intervention. Low ALT may occur for no reason, or in some cases, unhealthy or unbalanced diet, urinary tract infections, excessive coffee consumption or caffeine intake. It may occur due to deficiency of vitamins and minerals such as B group vitamins or magnesium. Apart from all these, ALT level may be low due to positive reasons such as having a healthy liver and almost no liver cell destruction. Therefore, low ALT has no medical meaning and does not pose any risk to the person.

What Does Low ALT Mean?

As a result of blood tests done in some people, the ALT level is below the reference value range can be seen to be. This situation makes no medical sense for healthy individuals and does not require any investigation or intervention. Low ALT may occur for no reason, or in some cases, due to unhealthy or unbalanced diet, urinary tract infections, excessive coffee consumption or caffeine intake, B group vitamins or lack of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium. Apart from all these, ALT level may be low due to positive reasons such as having a healthy liver and almost no liver cell destruction. For this reason, low ALT has no medical meaning and does not pose any risk to the person.

How to Lower ALT?

What is ALT elevation, what is ALT value? One of the issues is how to lower ALT values. In patients with high ALT levels in blood tests, any liver disease should be investigated by ultrasound or other radiological imaging methods. In addition, some additional urine or blood tests may be required. Infection in the liver may have developed due to hepatitis viruses. If this is the case, it will be clearly seen in blood tests.

If suspicious lesions are found in the liver in radiological imaging, a sample is taken from them by biopsy method and sent to pathology laboratories for examination. After detecting the problem causing ALT elevation in the light of the findings obtained, liver damage should be prevented by applying treatment for it. In order to lower the ALT level, liver damage must be stopped. is. If there is no problem in the liver, investigations should be made on other organs where ALT elevation may originate. In some cases, elevation of liver enzymes may be related to the drugs used, in this case, some drugs may need to be changed or discontinued with the evaluation made by the physicians. In addition to all these, liver health can be protected by behaviors such as healthy eating, regular sports, quitting alcohol and smoking, and avoiding unconscious drug use. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.

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