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What Is ALT in a Blood Test?

What is ALT in Blood Tests?

Why is the ALT Test Necessary?

What Are the Ways to Measure ALT Count in Blood Test?

When Should You Get an ALT Test?

What is the Procedure for the ALT Test?

How Should You Prepare for the ALT Test?

How to Read Results of ALT in a Blood Test?

How to Understand the Ranges of Normal ALT Count?

As per medical terms, the ALT blood test normal range is 7 to 55 units per litre (U/L). In addition to this, the LFT report consists of a few other components and its ranges:

Component Range
AST (SGOT) 8 to 40 U/L
ALP 40 to 98 U/L
Albumin 3.5 to 4.8 grams per deciliter
Total protein 5.7 to 8.2 grams per deciliter
Bilirubin 0.1 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter
GGT 0 to 30 IU/L
LDH 140 to 280 U/L
PT 9.5 to 13.8 seconds

The normal range mentioned above is common for adult men and women. However, it may vary slightly depending on the methods and specific conditions during the test.

What are the Symptoms of High ALT?

If suspected liver damage is the cause of increased alanine transaminase levels, you might have symptoms such as:

Symptoms Description
Abdominal Pain A dull ache or sharp pain, typically limited to the upper right side of the belly, right above the area of the liver. The pain might also radiate to the back or shoulder. It can be constant or intermittent and is often exacerbated by certain activities or after eating.
Dark-Coloured Urine It can also turn extremely dark, deep amber, or brown-coloured. The liver has stopped processing bile normally, so excess bilirubin builds up. When excreted through urine, it gives the typical colour.
Exhaustion Deep feelings of tiredness are mostly different from simple sleepiness; it is a persistent lack of energy that rest does not restore. It may greatly interfere with daily activities and diminish the quality of life in general.
Jaundice This is a condition whereby the skin and sclera turn yellow. It results from an accumulation of bilirubin, a yellow pigment generated from the breakdown of red blood cells. Jaundice may be evident on the face, neck, and chest area.
Light-Coloured Stools The colour of the stools is normally brown due to bile pigments. When the liver is not secreting enough bile, the stools can be pale, clay-coloured, or even whitish in colour, which means there is no bile reaching the intestines.
Loss of Appetite It may mean less interest in food or unwillingness to eat at all. It can also include fullness or discomfort on eating even a small amount of food.
Nausea and Vomiting Nausea or vomiting may be directly connected with malfunctioning of the liver. This can happen due to built-up toxic substances in the blood or from a general sense of sickness due to problems with the liver.

If you are troubled by any of these symptoms, you should visit a doctor who will evaluate you properly and get the right treatment done.

What Does a High ALT Count Mean?

What are the Causes of High ALT Count?

Many factors are causing high blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), primarily involving the liver. Some of the common causes include the following:

Causes Description
Liver Diseases Hepatitis is due to viruses or autoimmune disorders, fatty liver, cirrhosis, and liver tumours.
Medications and Supplements Specific medicinal drugs, like over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen and prescription, affect liver function.
Alcohol Consumption Heavy or chronic alcohol use can result in liver inflammation and high ALT.
NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) The condition is usually seen in obese individuals with metabolic syndrome, where fat is deposited in the liver.
Muscle Disorders Muscle disorders because the enzyme is also found in muscles apart from liver tissue.
Infections Several infections and diseases change the liver's functioning and result in high ALT.
Genetic Conditions Several inherited disorders, like Wilson's disease, hamper the liver's functioning and thus cause high ALT levels.

If your ALT levels are higher, you should seek an overall evaluation from a healthcare expert for proper management.

What are the Symptoms of Low ALT?

Reduced heart rate reserve, a shorter stress test duration, a greater resting heart rate, and a lower baseline fitness are all linked to low blood levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase). Low ALT levels have also been linked to poor outcomes in acute coronary syndrome, IBD, and disease activity, according to other research.

Low ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) levels typically don’t present with direct symptoms, as ALT is an enzyme primarily involved in liver function and metabolism. However, underlying conditions that cause low ALT might lead to various symptoms. These can include:

Symptoms Description
Lower Fitness Levels Reduced baseline fitness, shorter duration on stress tests, and lower heart rate reserve.
Digestive Issues Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) might present with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Heart Health Concerns Poor outcomes in acute coronary conditions may manifest as chest pain, shortness of breath, or cardiac symptoms.

If low ALT levels are observed, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider to investigate the underlying cause and related health issues.

What Does a Low ALT Count Mean?

What are the Causes of Low ALT Count?

Low levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are less commonly talked about but can occur because of a few reasons:

Causes Description
Vitamin B6 Deficiency ALT activity is dependent on vitamin B6 or pyridoxine. A deficiency of this vitamin would lead to low levels.
Marked Severe Liver Damage In the presence of advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, the capability of the liver to produce ALT might be diminished, hence the low levels.
Malnutrition A condition of inadequate protein intake or total malnutrition may alter the production of enzymes and thus cause lower ALT.
Certain Medications It has been nothing less but suggested that some medications alter the enzymes in the liver and cause reduced levels of ALT to some extent.

If low ALT results are found, the health provider should evaluate the condition of the patient being treated to identify specific treatment or management.

The ALT enzyme is primarily located in the liver. The level of ALT in the blood is determined using an ALT test. Damage to the liver causes it to emit ALT into the blood. Elevated ALT levels in the blood could indicate an illness or injury to the liver. However, it is important to keep in mind that the consumption of folic acid drugs or any other supplements should be started under medical guidance to combat ALT.

FAQs about ALT Blood Test