The use of herbal supplements often causes a great deal of controversy because the FDA does not monitor them for purity, safety or effectiveness, causing production standards to vary widely. Though black cohosh has a long history in traditional...
Alanine aminotransferase, or ALT, and aspartate aminotransferase, AST, are the liver enzymes. ALT is mainly found in the liver, while AST is found in the liver and other tissues, organs and cells. These two enzymes are also normally in the...
A number of medical conditions, medications and lifestyle choices can lead to elevated liver enzymes. Heavy drinking, hepatitis and obesity are very common causes. You might also suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a heavy accumulation...
Liver enzyme blood tests are often performed as part of a more comprehensive test called a liver function test. The reason for this is because liver enzyme results only tell part of the story related to liver health and condition. Liver enzyme...
The liver is an important organ in the body, in charge of detoxifying the blood from medicines, chemicals and other substances, among other duties. Located in the right upper portion of the abdomen, right below the rib cage, it's one of the...
A protein is a large molecule synthesized by smaller molecules called amino acids. The DNA in cells codes for the synthesis of proteins by telling the cells what order to put the amino acids in. Proteins have numerous functions. One is as an...
The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body. It is responsible for filtering toxins in the body, as well as assisting in producing proteins used in blood clotting. When liver cells are damaged or inflamed, they often leak liver enzymes...
Liver cells contain high concentrations of certain enzymes, or proteins, that facilitate chemical reactions. Liver cell injury causes leakage of these enzymes into the bloodstream, leading to abnormal elevations in the levels of these proteins....
As of 2011, the prevalence of statin use has climbed considerably. From 1988 to 1994, only 2 percent of Americans were prescribed statins. That number increased to 25 percent of Americans from 2005 to 2008. With the rate of use on the rise,...
Numerous factors can cause a sudden elevation in liver enzymes. According to MayoClinic.com, elevated liver enzymes -- usually alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase -- may be detected during liver function tests. In most individuals,...
If you've just been diagnosed with celiac disease, which causes damage to your body anytime you eat foods with the protein gluten in them, it's not unusual for you also to have raised liver enzymes. However, it's not clear whether these elevated...
Elevated liver enzymes may indicate the presence of serious liver dysfunction; however, weight loss has the potential to decrease your liver enzymes and improve the health of your liver. Too much fat in your liver cells can lead to liver diseases...
Increased levels of liver enzymes indicate inflammation, injury or damage to liver cells. The most commonly found elevated liver enzymes in blood tests are alanine transaminase, or ALT, and aspartate transaminase, or AST. In most cases, high...
Liver enzymes are proteins released into your blood stream by the liver and are an indication of overall liver health -- however, elevated liver enzymes do not necessarily signify liver disease. Prescription medications, including statins that...
The liver is the body's largest solid organ, performing several hundred different functions that go beyond simply cleaning the blood. The liver is responsible for healthy metabolism and converting cholesterol in the body to bile acids for...
When cells in the liver incur damage, blood levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, two liver enzymes, will be higher than they should be, according to the Mayo Clinic. Doctors use blood tests called liver function tests to...
There are two types of fatty liver disease, or steatosis: alcohol-induced and nonalcoholic. Both conditions may result in elevated levels of normal liver enzymes in your blood. If your doctor notices high liver enzyme levels, he may investigate...
Crestor (rosuvastatin) is a medication prescribed for the treatment of dyslipidemia--abnormal blood fat levels. Crestor decreases total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and triglycerides; it increases HDL-cholesterol (the good...
Deferiprone is the generic name for the anti-chelation drug Ferriprox, according to the Virtual Medical Centre. It is a synthetic compound invented in Essex, England, according to the "Journal of The American Society of Hematology" and is also...
Acetaminophen, more commonly known as Tylenol or APAP in prescription drugs, is widely used for its ability to reduce aches and pains such as headaches, arthritis, cold symptoms and fever. Once in the body, this medication is absorbed by the small...
Certain dietary supplements may be helpful in lowering your liver enzyme levels. According to MayoClinic.com, elevated liver enzymes signal inflammation of or damage to your liver cells, as inflamed or injured liver cells leak greater than usual...
Statin drugs are commonly prescribed in the United States, primarily as treatment for high blood cholesterol levels. Left unchecked, high cholesterol (called hyperlipidemia) can lead to a variety of cardiovascular diseases such as hardening of the...
The liver plays a significant role in filtering waste and toxins from your body. Proteins produced by your liver, called enzymes, help in a variety of functions, including the production of bile fluids that help break down food products. These...
Medical professionals commonly rely on blood tests to screen for liver disease. Liver function tests measure the levels of enzymes and other blood chemicals. The results of these tests help doctors assess the overall health of the liver. Many...
Hemochromotosis is a disorder which causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. This disorder can be inherited as in the case of primary hemochromotosis, or caused by other disorders such as anemia and alcoholism as in secondary...
The liver has a pivotal role in many body functions including digestion, metabolism, detoxification, cholesterol synthesis and blood clotting. Liver enzymes are proteins that help to speed up reactions, and elevated levels may be a sign of damage...
Simvastatin is a commonly prescribed member of the statin drugs. These drugs are often used to treat high cholesterol because they prevent the liver from synthesizing new cholesterol. Statins are some of the most effective medications for lowering...
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....
Liver function tests, a group of blood tests that measure certain enzymes and proteins in your blood, may reveal you have high liver enzymes, reports the Mayo Clinic. These tests generally evaluate enzyme levels that include alanine transaminase,...