Liver
ALT
What This Marker Tells Us
A liver-specific enzyme that leaks into blood when liver cells are damaged, providing the most sensitive marker of liver injury.
Why It Matters
Elevated ALT indicates liver damage from fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, alcohol, medications, supplements, or toxins. Because ALT is highly concentrated in liver and minimal elsewhere, it's the best single marker for liver-specific injury. Even mild elevations predict future liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Detecting liver injury early enables intervention before cirrhosis develops.
How to Interpret Your Trends
Low ALT is generally not concerning. Typical ALT (7-35 U/L for men, 7-30 U/L for women) indicates healthy liver function. Mildly elevated ALT (36-100 U/L) suggests fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, or mild liver stress. Moderately elevated ALT (101-300 U/L) indicates significant liver inflammation requiring intervention. High ALT (above 300 U/L) signals severe liver injury requiring immediate medical evaluation.
What Influences This Marker
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from metabolic syndrome, obesity, and insulin resistance is the most common cause of elevated ALT. Alcohol consumption, medications (including some supplements), viral hepatitis, and autoimmune liver disease raise ALT. Weight loss, improved metabolic health, reduced alcohol intake, and avoiding hepatotoxic substances lower ALT.
How Your Team Uses It
Your team uses ALT as the primary liver health marker, guiding metabolic interventions, supplement adjustments, and alcohol recommendations. Elevated ALT triggers comprehensive metabolic optimization including weight loss, exercise, and dietary changes. Trending improvements confirm intervention effectiveness for liver health.
Related Signals We Also Review
AST, AST/ALT ratio, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, metabolic markers, and supplement/medication review complete the liver health assessment.