Liver enzymes, such as alanine aminotransferase, or ALT, and aspartate aminotrasferase, or AST, are normally contained within the healthy cells of the liver. However, when liver cells become inflamed or injured, liver enzymes leak into the...
Most carbohydrate-containing foods have large quantities of glucose, and as you digest your food, you absorb the glucose into the bloodstream. In most cases, you can't absorb glucose directly from your food -- you have to break larger molecules...
The liver serves many metabolic functions, including the production of enzymes, which are chemicals that help reactions occur in the body. Inflammation or other conditions that affect the liver can cause these enzymes to leak out into the...
Your liver is a metabolically active organ that detoxifies the foods you eat, breaks down and recycles aging red blood cells, processes glucose and manufactures cholesterol, hormones, clotting proteins and other important molecules. To perform its...
Urinary tract infections and urinary calculi represent two of the most common causes of blood in the urine, medically known as hematuria. Gross hematuria, meaning the urine appears red and bloody, is distinguished from microscopic hematuria,...
Elevated liver enzymes and high blood pressure can occur during pregnancy in a condition called the HELLP syndrome, although the overwhelming majority of pregnant women do not develop this medical disorder. While the treatment is to deliver as...
There are many common misconceptions regarding the function, potential and use of enzymes. While you definitely need enzymes for your cells and body systems to function properly, you don't need to -- and really can't, in most cases -- supplement...
When carbohydrates are ingested, digestive enzymes break them down to simple sugars or monosaccharides known as glucose, fructose and galactose. Digestive enzymes are cellular proteins that break bonds between atoms in a carbohydrate molecule and...
When your body stores too much iron, your liver may be affected and release certain enzymes into your bloodstream. Your health-care provider may wish to test your blood for any or all of several liver enzymes or for various indicators of your iron...
A simple blood test can check liver enzyme levels. Elevated levels can indicate liver damage; liver function is usually tightly regulated, but a damaged liver can "leak" extra enzymes into the bloodstream because its function is compromised. This...
Papaya enzyme occurs naturally in the papaya fruit, but is also a dietary supplement that some alternative health practitioners recommend for a wide variety of conditions. There's no scientific evidence to support most of these, including taking...
Raised liver enzymes and low white blood cells are two separate conditions that have several mild to severe causes and indications. Both conditions can manifest from the same disease or its treatments. Your physician will typically address each...
An elevated liver enzyme level can occur due to liver injury or as a result of liver inflammation. This causes large amounts of enzymes to be release from the liver and into the bloodstream, and can mean potential liver disease. Liver enzymes work...
The body thins blood naturally by using various enzymes, and thickens it by using platelets. However, due to an imbalance of these properties, the blood may thicken in a blood vessel, creating a solid mass known as a blood clot. These clots can...
Modern glucose monitors require only a small sample of blood to effectively measure glucose levels. Glucose levels are screened multiple times a day and even during the night for some users. The sample is obtained by piercing the skin with a...
Many people infected with hepatitis C don't know they have this often chronic, blood-borne, lifelong viral infection that affects about 4.1 million Americans, according to the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders....
Digestion begins from the moment you bite into your food. Everything you eat needs to be digested in order to be absorbed and used. Enzymes inside your mouth and stomach start the process by breaking down complex molecules into simpler versions...
Liver function test refers to a group of tests that screen the blood for enzymes and proteins produced in the liver. By determining the level of these substances, this group of tests can determine the presence of liver disease or damage. An...
Carbohydrate-free and restricted diets such as the Atkins, Southbeach and Zone diets have gained popularity through the successful tactics that have aided many in their weight-loss efforts. Following such plans can help individuals eliminate...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found inside all cells of the body. It is in higher concentration in certain tissues, however. Tissue damage from various diseases can release alkaline phosphatase into the blood, which can be detected on a blood...
Meats provide good sources of protein and other essential nutrients. The healthiest meats include lean cuts such as round steaks, pork loin, extra lean ground beef, skinless chicken, turkey cutlets and lean turkey, roast beef and ham, according to...
Serax is a benzodiazepine prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders and short-term anxiety. It is also indicated for symptom relief in alcohol withdrawal, including tremors, anxiety and inebriation. For elderly patients, Serax may be...
Ginger and garlic pepper steak is a flavorful low-carbohydrate meal that is packed with protein. This dish is often made stir-fry style in a wok with sliced flank steak, chopped garlic cloves, and peeled and chopped ginger. Add other vegetables or...
Kona coffee, grown exclusively in the Kona district of Hawaii -- a small area that covers about 30 miles of volcanic terrain -- is what makes Hawaiian Kona coffee distinctive. The rich, slightly acidic volcanic soil and ideal climate produce the...
Extra-large egg whites are a rich source of animal protein that provides a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Nutrients in extra-large egg whites include potassium, selenium, pantothenic acid, magnesium, niacin and sodium. Egg whites are also...
The Mediterranean diet food pyramid is quite different from the typical American diet. At the top of the pyramid is red meat, which is eaten in small portions a few times a month. Eggs,poultry and fish are allocated a few servings per week. Yogurt...
Dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, entered the medical scene during the 1960s when Dr. Stanley Jacob began investigating claims of medicinal properties. Previously known only as an industrial solvent produced during the manufacture of paper, DMSO was...
Ativan is a prescription medication available by oral tablet, oral solution and injection. It is a controlled substance that must be taken only as prescribed. The drug is available by brand name or as the generic drug lorazepam. Ativan is...
Tests that evaluate liver function include several enzymes found in the heart, skeletal muscle and red blood cells in addition to the liver. The greatest concentration of alanine aminotransferase, sometimes called ALT or sometimes SGPT and...
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs when pancreatic digestive enzymes become active within the gland and attack the pancreas itself. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for pancreatitis in this...