Your liver performs many functions pertaining to digestion, detoxification and protein, carbohydrate and medication metabolism, according to the Gastroenterological Society of Australia. It produces and secretes several enzymes that have various roles throughout the body systems. Elevated levels of these enzymes can indicate mild to severe diseases that affect the liver or other organs. Treatment to control high cholesterol can also contribute to elevated liver enzymes.
Indications and Diagnosis
Elevated liver enzymes can indicate damage to the liver and its cells caused by inflammation or infection. Liver function tests measure the levels of liver proteins and enzymes in your blood. The two main elevated enzymes most commonly found are alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, according to MayoClinic.com. Other enzymes tested include alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and L-lactate dehydrogenase.
Causes
MayoClinic.com notes that elevated liver enzymes do not indicate a serious or chronic liver disorder most of the time. Elevated levels have several causes, and your physician will use a multitude of other diagnostic tests to determine the exact source. Common causes include alcohol consumption; heart failure; hepatitis A, B and C; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; and obesity. Other causes are alcoholic and autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and hemochromatosis. Certain medications can also lead to elevated liver enzymes, such as over-the-counter acetaminophen and statins used to manage high cholesterol.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of lipid made of fat and protein molecules that your body's cells need to function properly. The liver makes enough cholesterol to support the body's needs, but excess consumption of animal products and fatty foods can lead to high cholesterol, according to MayoClinic.com. Too much cholesterol can cause fatty deposits in the blood that can attach to the lining of blood vessels and form plaques. These plaques can begin to inhibit blood flow to important organs, increasing your risk for heart attack and stroke. Lifestyle changes, including a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise, can produce significant improvement in high cholesterol levels, but if they are not enough, your physician may prescribe medication.
Medication Effects
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cholesterol medications are among the most prescribed medications in the United States. Among the many medications used to control cholesterol are statins. Statins work primarily in the liver by blocking a substance it needs to produce cholesterol, forcing the liver to remove cholesterol from the blood. Statins have many side effects, including increasing liver enzyme production. Untreated elevated enzymes can eventually lead to permanent liver damage, according to MayoClinic.com. Therefore, if you start a statin regimen to manage your cholesterol, your physician may begin routine liver function tests to monitor your liver enzyme levels and adjust your treatment as necessary.
References
- Gastroenterological Society of Australia: Liver
- MayoClinic.com; Elevated Liver Enzymes; May 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Liver Function Tests; July 2010
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol; June 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Prescription Drug Use Continues to Increase: U.S. Prescription Drug Data for 2007-2008; September 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Statin Side Effects: Weigh the Benefits and Risks; October 2010
