The liver is a large organ located in the upper abdomen that helps remove waste products from your body, stores nutrients, produces bile for digestion and breaks down proteins. A healthy liver normally produces certain enzymes that aid in the various functions of the liver. When liver function is compromised by disease or injury, one result is elevation of certain liver enzymes in the blood.
Types
The liver produces many different enzymes, each of which has different functions. The liver enzymes commonly tested to measure the health of your liver are the ones that leak out from damaged liver cells. These include serum aminotransferases, 5-nucleotidase and alanine transaminase, or ALT, which are released from damaged liver cells; aspartate transaminase, or AST, lactic dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, which are produced by damaged cells in a variety of tissues, including the liver; and serum alkaline phosphatase, high levels of which usually indicate obstruction of bile produced by the liver.
Testing
The liver enzymes are measured from the blood. If your doctor prescribes liver enzyme tests, you will need to have a blood sample taken, which is usually performed by a nurse or technician. The blood is generally taken with a needle connected to a sterile tube that is inserted into the vein on the inside of the elbow. The blood sample is then sent to a clinical laboratory that measures the amount of each enzyme your doctor wants tested.
Causes of Elevated Liver Enzymes
Various diseases or medications can cause an elevation in liver enzymes. Common causes of an increase in liver enzymes include: infection with the hepatitis A, B or C virus, which can cause progressive damage to the liver; obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which both cause liver damage due to chronic inflammation and fat buildup; and taking statin drugs, which are prescribed to help lower blood cholesterol levels. If you have elevated liver enzymes, be sure to ask you doctor what he or she thinks is the cause in your case.
Diet
If you have elevated liver enzymes, your doctor may recommend that you adhere to a specific diet. The liver is responsible for processing proteins, and ineffective processing of a damaged liver may lead to buildup of toxic waste products. Therefore, your doctor may recommend you eat a low-protein diet. Additionally, you may need to increase the amount of carbohydrates in your diet, which can be used as energy. Avoiding high-salt foods will help prevent swelling that affects many people with impaired liver function.
