Health & Wellness

Signs and Symptoms of High Liver Enzymes Causes and Treatment

Looking for signs and symptoms of high liver enzymes? A liver enzyme is a chemical that stimulates (speeds up) chemical reactions within the body. There are various enzymes in the liver, such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). High liver enzymes are usually seen in the blood test, indicating inflamed or injured liver cells. 

Let’s check more about the signs and symptoms of elevated liver enzymes and much other helpful information. 

In This Article

Signs and Symptoms of High Liver Enzymes 

Your liver is an essential component of your digestive system, responsible for cleaning out toxins from your blood, processing medicines, developing bile, comforting you digest fat, storing glucose, and yielding proteins that help clot your blood, among many other things. 

It’s also a relatively forgiving organ, able to develop cells up to a point, but repeated harm to the liver leads to inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis. This results in shrinking and harden, and changes the structure of the liver, preventing it from functioning well. High consumption of

Alcohol or toxins, a diet high in fat, and some viral infections, such as hepatitis, can damage the liver. 

Liver disease doesn’t usually result in any symptoms until the defect to the liver is pretty advanced. 

Elevated Liver Enzymes Symptoms

Elevated Liver Enzymes Symptoms

Let’s look at the signs of high liver enzymes that may indicate a problem with your liver-

1. Fatigue and Tiredness

Doctors are not sure exactly how liver damage causes drowsiness, but it’s a popular warning. 

2. Nausea (feeling sick)

Nausea is also a sign and symptom of high liver enzymes results because toxins accumulate in the bloodstream due to the liver’s reduced ability to do its chore of filtering out toxins. 

3. Pale Stools

Stools are of dark color due to the bile salts that the liver discharges typically. If the stools are pale, it may reflect a problem with the liver or other part of the biliary drainage system. Black tarry stools can occur in advanced liver disease and are affected by blood passing through the gastrointestinal tract – this requires urgent medical attention. 

4. Yellow Skin or Eyes (Jaundice)

Jaundice occurs because of bilirubin (a bile pigment) build-up in the blood, as it can’t be refined effectively. The skin may also be scratchy for the same reason. 

5. Spider naevi

Spider naevi appear like a red dot with blood vessels radiate outward like a spider’s legs. They can be prevalent in healthy women, but when seen in more significant numbers on the upper half of the body or in men, they may indicate liver disease. 

6. Bruising Easily

You may injure easily due to your liver’s decreased ability to generate clotting factors. 

7. Reddened Palms (Palmar erythema)

Roughly a quarter of the population with liver cirrhosis develop palmar erythema – a reddening of the skin on the palms. 

8. Dark urine

Urine color might be dark orange, amber, cola-colored, or brown can indicate liver disease. The color is due to too much bilirubin developing up because the liver isn’t severing it down normally. 

9. Swollen Abdomen (ascites)

Ascites happen because fluid is preserved in the abdomen. The legs and ankles might also swell because of fluid retention. 

10. Abdominal pain

High liver enzymes may sometimes cause abdominal pain on the right side of the abdomen.

High Liver Enzymes Causes and Treatment

High Liver Enzymes Causes and Treatment

What causes high liver enzymes? Here are some of the diseases or situations that can result in a rise in liver enzymes include-

  • Hepatitis. 
  • Fatty liver disease 
  • Metabolic syndrome 
  • Cirrhosis 
  • Drug abuse

High Liver Enzymes Treatment

High Liver Enzymes are usually not life-threatening disorders, but elevated ALT and AST warrant stimulating medical attention. Chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis caused more than 28000 deaths in the United States in 2005. Elevated AST and ALT indicate damage to your liver caused by disease or infection. 

Being sure of what is resulting in the rise in liver enzymes, your doctor may instruct you to avoid drinking alcohol or consuming certain drugs, lose weight, or consume a healthier diet. If your

Liver enzymes stay improved; your doctor may order some tests or suggest you to a specialist in liver diseases. 

The medications for some prevalent causes of high AST or ALT levels include: 

1. Fatty Liver Disease 

People can function with their doctor to deal with NAFLD with weight loss. The doctor may instruct a person to give rise to lifestyle changes to lose weight, such as: 

  • Exercising more 
  • Eating a healthful, balanced diet 
  • Trying to simmer more calories than they eat 

2. Metabolic Syndrome 

Treatments for metabolic syndrome include: 

  • Losing weight 
  • Exercising more 
  • Consuming a healthy, balanced diet 
  • Regulating blood sugar levels 
  • Reducing stress levels 

3. Hepatitis 

A doctor may instruct the following treatments for acute hepatitis: 

  • Bed rest 
  • Plenty of fluids 
  • Avoiding alcohol 

4. Alcohol or Drug misuse Disorder 

Handlings for alcohol or drug use disorder include: 

  • Behavioral therapies 
  • Medications
  • Support groups 

Tests for High Liver Enzymes

Tests for High Liver Enzymes

A doctor may instruct a liver enzyme test if a patient is being cared for or maintains a higher danger for liver disease. For instance, if the liver is damaged, ALT is discharged into the bloodstream and ALT level increases.

Foods good for High Liver Enzymes

Here are a few foods good for liver repair- 

  • Coffee to lower abnormal liver enzymes 
  • Greens to prevent fat buildup 
  • Tofu to reduce fat buildup 
  • Fish for inflammation and fat levels 
  • Oatmeal for energy 
  • Avocado to help protect the liver 
  • Milk and another low-fat dairy 
  • Sunflower seeds for antioxidants 
  • Olive oil for weight control 
  • Garlic to help reduce body weight 
  • Green tea for less fat absorption. 

How to Prevent High Liver Enzymes

Some of the natural ways to prevent high liver enzymes are:

● Stop Drinking Alcohol 

● Change Your Diet 

● Take Medicinal Herbs like Milk Thistle, Holy Basil (tulsi), turmeric, etc.

● Try a Liver Cleanse 

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers-

Q. Can gallbladder problems cause elevated liver enzymes?

Ans- Yes, gallbladder problems can indeed cause elevated liver enzymes. This is because the gallbladder is responsible for breaking down and removing toxins from the liver. When the gallbladder is not working properly, these toxins can build up and cause the liver enzymes to rise.

Q. When should you stop taking statins with high liver enzymes?

Ans- If the Liver enzymes rise to more than their baseline levels, the statin should be stopped. There is a clinical link between the progression of the underlying disease and the severity of the symptoms.

Q. What causes elevated liver enzymes and high platelets?

Ans- Hepatitis, infection, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other liver illnesses may cause liver damage, which elevated liver enzymes in the blood can detect. And Infections are the most prevalent cause of a high platelet count, accounting for around 50% of all cases.

Q. What to do when liver enzymes are high?

Ans-If your liver enzymes are elevated, you will need to keep an eye on your food, refrain from consuming alcohol, reduce weight, and regulate your cholesterol. If you have any symptoms like Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes), Swollen abdomen Swelling of arms or legs, Vomiting or diarrhea, Black or bloody stools bleeding for longer than usual Unexplained fever, then you should visit your doctor.

Q. Reasons why liver enzymes are high?

Ans-There are several disorders and situations that can cause increased liver enzymes. The following are some of the most prevalent reasons for high liver enzymes:

  • Hepatitis A, B, C
  • Consuming alcoholic beverages
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Obesity
  • Medicines or Toxins induce toxic hepatitis.
  • Wilson’s disease

Q. When liver enzymes are high?

Ans-When a person suffers from an inflamed or damaged liver, their liver enzymes become high. There are a variety of illnesses like Hepatitis A, B, C, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Obesity, Toxic hepatitis induced by medicines or Toxins, etc., that can cause liver inflammation or damage.

Q. Can breastfeeding affect liver function?

Ans- Elevated liver enzymes while breastfeeding were found in multivariate analyses. Liver enzyme levels alter dramatically during the perinatal period.

Q. Does elevated liver enzymes after c-section?

Ans- Yes, The levels of liver enzymes alter dramatically during pregnancy and after c- section.

Q. What causes of elevated liver enzymes in pregnancy?

Ans- Because of the development and maturation of the uterus, liver enzymes may be increased in normal pregnancies during the first few weeks of puerperium and after pregnancy.

Q. What is considered high liver enzymes?

Ans- According to the FDA, an elevated level of 300 U/L or more is considered nonspecific. Viral hepatitis, ischemia liver injury (shock liver), and toxin-induced liver damage are the three most common causes of elevated ALT values over 500 U/L in adults.

Q. What is the treatment for high liver enzymes?

Ans- The treatment for high liver enzymes is dependent on the underlying cause. However, there are precautions you can take to maintain your liver healthy.

  • Having a cup of coffee
  • Exercising regularly
  • Increasing the consumption of folic acid
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Avoiding alcoholic beverages and tobacco
  • lowering high cholesterol levels
  • If you have diabetes, you should keep your blood sugar under control.

Q. Is high liver enzymes bad?

Ans-It is common for liver enzyme levels to be moderately and temporarily increased in most cases. According to research, Increased liver enzymes are not always indicative of a chronic or significant liver condition. However, if your liver enzyme level is too high and you are experiencing symptoms such as tiredness, itching, yellow skin, poor appetite, and stomach pain, you should consult your doctor.

Q. High liver enzymes mean?

Ans- High liver enzymes are often indicative of liver inflammation or cell damage.

Q. Is high liver enzymes a sign of cancer?

Ans- According to research, Increased liver enzymes are not always indicative of a chronic or significant liver condition. However, Abnormal liver enzymes may be a symptom of liver cancer.

Q. Are high liver enzymes life threatening?

Ans- It is common for liver enzyme levels to be moderately and temporarily increased in most cases. Most of the time, high liver enzymes do not cause a life-threatening condition.

Q. Is high liver enzymes common?

Ans- Yes, It is common for liver enzyme levels to be moderately and temporarily increased in most cases.

Q. Is high liver enzymes treatable?

Ans-In most cases, high liver enzymes are treatable. But Permanent Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that cannot be reversed. As a result, it is not always curable.

Q. Can high liver enzymes cause itchy skin?

Ans-You may feel itchy skin with high liver enzymes. With high liver enzymes, sometimes there are increased levels of bile that may accumulate under the skin’s surface, causing itching.

Q. What can happen if your liver enzymes are high?

Ans- If you have high liver enzymes, you may have symptoms such as Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes), Swollen abdomen Swelling of arms or legs, Vomiting or diarrhea, Black or bloody stool bleeding for longer than usual Unexplained fever.

Q. Are high liver enzymes dangerous?

Ans- Mostly high liver enzymes are not dangerous. It is common for liver enzyme levels to be moderately and temporarily increased in most cases.

Q. Can high liver enzymes be reversed?

Ans- In most cases, high liver enzymes are treatable. But permanent cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that cannot be reversed. As a result, it is not always curable.

Q. Can high liver enzymes cause death?

Ans- If high liver enzymes are detected and treated promptly, they do not cause death.

Q. Can dehydration cause high liver enzymes?

Ans- Yes, dehydration can cause high liver enzymes. It is possible that the liver will not filter adequately if the person is dehydrated and the blood is too thick, which can result in serious complications later on.

Q. Can anxiety or stress cause elevated liver enzymes?

Ans- Yes, anxiety or stress can cause elevated liver enzymes. It is common to see anxiety or stress patients in clinical practice.

Q. What are Liver enzyme deficiency symptoms?

Ans-The Liver enzyme deficiency symptoms are liver pain, anemia, dark urine, and jaundice. Liver enzymes help your body detoxify or break down chemicals and poisons in the bloodstream. They also help with metabolizing food. If you have a liver enzyme deficiency, then it is possible that your body is not breaking down toxins properly, which can lead to various health problems such as nerve damage, skin disorders, and others.

Q. Can zinc cause elevated liver enzymes?

Ans- Yes, zinc deficiency may impair hepatocyte functioning resulting in elevated liver enzymes.

Q. Can gallstones cause high ast and alt levels ( high liver enzymes)?

Ans- Yes, gallstones can cause an increase in the levels of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

Q. Does covid cause high liver enzymes?

Ans- Yes, covid causes high liver enzymes. Researchers found that patients with COVID-19 had abnormal liver tests.

Q. Do high liver enzymes cause pain?

Ans- Yes, high liver enzymes may cause pain. In most cases, increased liver enzymes are not associated with any signs or symptoms. Stomach pain may be one of the symptoms you experience if you have liver damage, which is the cause of high liver enzymes.

Q. What causes enlarged spleen and elevated liver enzymes?

Ans- Enlarged spleen and elevated liver enzymes has a variety of reasons, including infections, blood issues, liver disease, malignancies, Hepatitis A, B, C, Toxic hepatitis induced by medicines or Toxins.

Q. Foods to avoid with high liver enzymes?

Ans- Liver health is directly affected by what you consume. The following is a list of foods to avoid with high liver enzymes.

  • Red meats
  • High-fructose corn syrup
  • nonskim dairy products
  • Alcohol
  • Added sugar and salts
  • Fried foods
  • White bread, rice, and pasta

Q. What foods help lower high liver enzymes?

Ans- The following is a list of foods to reduce high liver enzymes-

  • Fruits containing high vitamin C 
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Drinking Green Tea and Coffee
  • Omega- 3 fatty acids
  • Oatmeal
  • Fiber-rich foods
  • Olive oil
  • Nuts
  • Drink plenty of water

Q. How do you treat high liver enzymes?

Ans- The treatment for high liver enzymes is dependent on the underlying cause. However, there are precautions you can take to maintain your liver healthy.

  • Having a cup of coffee
  • Exercising regularly
  • Increasing the consumption of folic acid
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Avoiding alcoholic beverages and tobacco
  • lowering high cholesterol levels
  • If you have diabetes, you should keep your blood sugar under control.

Q. What is the juicing for high liver enzymes?

Ans- Grapefruit and orange juice is best for those who have high liver enzymes. Grapefruit and orange juice is a healthy drink that you can add to your diet to lower high liver enzymes. Grapefruit and orange juice is rich in potassium and vitamin C, which protect the cells of your liver from toxins.

Q. What is the risk of dangerously high liver enzymes?

Ans-There might be fatal risk if high liver enzymes untreated. If your liver enzyme level is too high and you are experiencing symptoms such as tiredness, itching, yellow skin, poor appetite, and stomach pain, you should consult your doctor.

Q. Can High cholesterol cause Elevated Liver Enzymes?

Ans– Yes, High cholesterol can cause elevated liver enzymes. The liver produces liver enzymes and plays a vital role in your body. They help in digestion, detoxification, elimination of waste products from the body, and breaking down toxins.
If there is any problem with your liver, these enzymes will start to break down and cause problems. This can be seen when you have a high level of cholesterol in your blood which causes an increase in the production of free radicals, which ultimately damage cells within the body.

Q. Elevated liver enzymes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

Ans- Liver enzymes increase when the patient has a low white blood cell count. Liver enzymes are made by the liver and help break down toxins, medications, and other chemicals that enter the body. This is why elevated liver enzymes may be an early sign of infection or inflame liver enzymes increase when the patient has a low white blood cell count.

Foods to Avoid with Liver Disease( video)

In Closing

High liver enzymes are an indication that a person is suffering from an inflamed or damaged liver. Many disorders may result in liver inflammation or damage. 

Doctors take a blood test to test for high liver enzymes. They may check anyone with warnings of one of the situations they suffer to raise liver enzyme levels.

Don’t miss

Reference from trusted sources

  1. Medications and the Liver Accessed
  2. Increased liver enzymes: what should be done?
  3. Liver enzyme alteration: a guide for clinicians
  4. Liver Function Tests Pathophysiology
  5. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
  6. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
  7. The influence of diet upon liver function tests and serum lipids
  8. A review on laboratory liver function tests

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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