@nourishingapothecary: One abnormal liver enzyme doesn't automatically mean you have liver disease. One of the biggest misconceptions I see is people panicking when they receive their blood test results and notice one of their liver enzymes is highlighted in red. The reality is that a liver function test isn't one test, it's a panel of different markers, and each one tells us something different about how your liver is functioning. Here's what they're looking at: 🩸 ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) The most liver-specific enzyme. An elevated ALT usually suggests liver cell injury, but it doesn't tell us what's causing it. Common causes include fatty liver disease, certain medications, alcohol and viral hepatitis. 🩸 AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) Found in both the liver and your muscles. This means AST can sometimes be elevated after intense exercise or muscle injury, so an elevated AST doesn't automatically mean you have liver disease. 🩸 GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase) Helps us assess the liver and bile ducts. It can be elevated in fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver injury, certain medications and conditions affecting bile flow. 🩸 ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) This enzyme isn't just made by the liver, it's also produced by your bones. If ALP is elevated, one of the first questions we ask is whether it's coming from the liver or somewhere else in the body. 🩸 Bilirubin: Helps us understand how your body processes old red blood cells and whether bile is flowing normally through the liver. 🩸 Albumin : A protein made by the liver that gives us an indication of how well your liver is performing one of its important jobs over time. The biggest takeaway? I never interpret one liver marker in isolation. I look at the entire pattern, together with your symptoms, medications, alcohol intake, medical history and, where appropriate, imaging to understand what's actually going on. That's why interpreting blood tests is about much more than looking at whether one number is high or low. If you've had abnormal liver blood tests, fatty liver disease, digestive symptoms or you're unsure what your results actually mean, Jess and Toni would love to help. Jess has a special interest in gut health, digestive disorders and complex gastrointestinal conditions, while Toni specialises in metabolic health, thyroid health and fatty liver disease. Both offer FREE 15-minute Discovery Calls, which you can book through our website. Not sure which practitioner is the best fit for you? Send me a DM with the word CLINIC and we'll automatically send you our Find Your Practitioner form. Once you've completed it, one of our naturopaths will personally review your information and help match you with the practitioner best suited to your health goals. 🌿 Learn more or book online at: www.nourishingapothecary.com #liverhealth #liverfunction #liverenzymes #bloodtests #pathology

Jaime | Naturopath & Homeopath

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Saturday 12 September 2026 22:02:49 GMT