AST and ALT levels

[Triplesauce32]

My AST is 60U/L and ALT 57U/L. I drank a couple of glasses of whiskey the night before my physical. The next day my levels are slightly elevated. Should I be worried about my levels?

[flyinlynn]

Many diseases and conditions can contribute to elevated liver enzymes. Your doctor determines the cause by reviewing your medications, your signs and symptoms and, in some cases, other tests and procedures.

More common causes of elevated liver enzymes include:

Over-the-counter pain medications, particularly acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
Certain prescription medications, including statin drugs used to control cholesterol
Drinking alcohol
Heart failure
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Obesity
Other possible causes of elevated liver enzymes include:
Alcoholic hepatitis (severe liver inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption)
Autoimmune hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by an autoimmune disorder)
Celiac disease (small intestine damage caused by gluten)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Epstein-Barr virus
Hemochromatosis (too much iron stored in your body)
Liver cancer
Mononucleosis
Polymyositis (inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness)
Sepsis (an overwhelming bloodstream infection that uses up neutrophils faster than they can be produced)
Thyroid conditions
Toxic hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by drugs or toxins)
Wilson's disease (too much copper stored in your body)

[flyinlynn]

You shouldn’t worry about your levels. Worry is non productive. What you should do is ask your doctor about a possible cause and if needed treat any condition you may have.

Worry is a waste of time and energy and solves nothing.

[Triplesauce32]

I have another follow up in a week and I am gonna stop my statins for a couple days, to see if anything changes. Thank you so much. Blessings!!

[flyinlynn]

Best of luck to you

[flyinlynn]

I would speak with your doctor about stopping you prescribed medications

“If you've been taking statins and would like to stop, you'll need to do so with your doctor's guidance. This is because it can be dangerous to stop taking statins. These drugs are highly effective in preventing heart problems such as heart attack and stroke.”

https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/how-to-safely-come-off-statins

[flyinlynn]

Clinical trials have shown that statin use has been associated with elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in approximately 3% of persons who take the drugs.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3983981/

[flyinlynn]

If the levels of transaminases increase to more than 3 times baseline values, discontinuation of the drug should be considered.

(You’re léveles are only minimally elevated)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2848423/

[flyinlynn]

Statins and hepatotoxicity: focus on patients with fatty liver. Moreover, statin use was safe even among those with NAFLD and elevated liver enzymes, meaning that statins might target both genesis or deterioration of NAFLD and risk of coronary artery disease, which is increased in NAFLD patients.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(22)00574-6/fulltext

[flyinlynn]

Per web md normal AST is:

Normal ranges are: Males: 10 to 40 units/L. Females: 9 to 32 units/L.

A normal ALT test result can range from 7 to 55 units per liter (U/L). Levels are normally higher in men.

Slightly high ALT levels may be caused by:

Alcohol abuse
Cirrhosis (long-term damage and scarring of the liver)
Mononucleosis
Drugs such as statins, aspirin, and some sleep aids
Moderately high ALT levels may be because of:

Chronic (ongoing) liver disease
Alcohol abuse
Cirrhosis
Blockage of the bile ducts
Heart attack or heart failure (when your heart can’t pump enough blood to your body)
Kidney damage
Muscle injury
Damage to red blood cells
Heat stroke
Too much vitamin A
Very high ALT levels can be caused by:
Acute viral hepatitis
An overdose of drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Liver cancer
Sepsis

[Triplesauce32]

I don’t abuse alcohol like that. I’m a social and relax drinker. I have been taking statins for pre-diabetic and high blood pressure. I do take acetaminophen that day.

[flyinlynn]

Ask your doctor that ordered the tests.

If you are overweight you could have NAFLD non alcoholic fatty liver disease or NASH Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

My suggestion is until you find the cause and especially if you do have either NASH or NAFLD you should abstain from all alcohol consumption. Just throwing fuel on the fire.

[flyinlynn]

I don't know what you mean you don’t “abuse alcohol like that” you don’t have to  be an alcoholic living on the street to have liver damage from alcohol. Some people have trouble with alcohol liver damage with less alcohol then others especially when combined with other health problems.

American Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting your alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Heavy Alcohol Use:

NIAAA defines heavy drinking as follows:

For men, consuming more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week

For women, consuming more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week

[flyinlynn]

What are they like normally? What does your doctor say?

[Triplesauce32]

My levels were in the late 20s. Like 28 and 27.

[flyinlynn]

So your late 20’s as in your age? How many years ago any recent data?

What does your doctor that ordered these tests say about your results?