Last weekend, Mr. Sun's company arranged an employee physical examination, and the liver function column of the examination report showed that alanine aminotransferase was 75U/L. Look at the arrow on the test page pointing upwards.

Mr. Sun looked online and said that the normal value for a man should be between 5-40U/L. If it exceeds this value, it means there is a problem with the liver. If his own value exceeds this limit, is the liver damage very serious? This makes Mr. Sun a little scared.

In fact, Mr. Sun's question is also a concern for many people. What is the relationship between transaminase and liver? Today we will give you a science popularization.

Let's first understand what transaminase is. In fact, it is a general term for some enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, Y-glutamyltranspeptidase, and lactate dehydrogenase. The first two have the highest content in the liver.

Generally speaking, they stay obediently inside the liver cells, but when the integrity of the liver cells is disrupted, enzymes will escape and enter the bloodstream, resulting in the 'upward arrow' mentioned by Mr. Sun at the beginning of the article.

Does a high transaminase indicate liver disease?

Generally speaking, the normal value is 0-40U/L. If it exceeds this range, it is considered abnormal liver and liver function.

However, it should be noted that transaminase is quite sensitive and can be influenced by various factors. Therefore, if it is only slightly higher than the normal value, it does not mean that the liver has a problem.

The level of transaminase is not the only indicator for judging liver function, but it is more sensitive to liver damage. When the liver is damaged, transaminase is released by liver cells into the bloodstream.

At this point, liver function tests will reveal elevated transaminase levels, which are of considerable value for the diagnosis of early acute hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis and can roughly reflect the degree of liver cell damage. Moreover, transaminase is not only present in the liver, but also in small amounts in myocardial cells, kidney cells, muscles, and other places.

So, when other parts have problems that cause cell damage, it can also lead to a mild increase in transaminase levels. Diseases such as cholecystitis, myocarditis, pneumonia, etc. can also cause elevated transaminase levels.

There are also some physiological factors, such as excessive exercise, fatigue, menstruation, and excessive drinking at once, which can lead to transient elevation of transaminase levels.

So, when we see elevated transaminase levels, we should not directly equate transaminase levels with liver function status. To accurately determine whether the liver is healthy, we also need to combine other examination indicators to make a comprehensive judgment.

Generally speaking, there are 8 indicators for measuring the liver, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, total bilirubin, albumin, total protein, and total bile acids.

If there is indeed an increase in transaminase levels, further examination can be conducted to identify the cause of the increase and then solve the problem accordingly.

However, it is also staged, with transaminase values generally between 40-80, mostly indicating mild liver injury; 80-120 is moderate; When it is greater than 120, it is severe liver injury. How to handle it specifically depends on the specific situation.

How to prevent high transaminase levels?

When transaminase levels increase, liver function may be affected, and the metabolism and detoxification function of the liver may also be weakened to a certain extent. At the same time, digestive tract movement may also be affected, and many patients may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal distension, and general fatigue.

At this point, it is still important to take it seriously, otherwise the consequences cannot be underestimated. For example, if it is caused by viral intervention, it indicates that the liver has already developed inflammation and is accompanied by liver damage. If not resolved quickly, repeated stimulation of the liver can easily lead to liver fibrosis, even cirrhosis and liver cancer.

So, it's best to go to the hospital for a check-up and diagnosis in a timely manner, and then actively intervene to restore health as soon as possible.

Given the importance of the liver to human health, it is essential to take protective measures in daily life. For example, in terms of diet, we can help maintain liver health by consuming specific foods, while also avoiding foods that can harm the liver.

·3 foods to eat less

Some high salt diets, especially those with liver disease, consume too much salt rich food, which can easily lead to abdominal water accumulation and swelling of hands and feet. Therefore, pickled, smoked, and processed foods should be eaten in moderation.

There are also high-fat foods such as fatty meat, fried meat, and grilled meat, which have a high fat content. Eating too much can be harmful to the liver and increase its burden. The most important thing is alcohol. Drinking a large amount of alcohol is very harmful to the liver and is one of the main factors leading to liver cancer. Therefore, to protect the liver, it is necessary to rely on alcohol.

·You might as well eat more of these foods

There are many foods that can harm the liver, and there are also many foods that can protect the liver, such as oats. Studies have shown that the beta glucan in it seems to help reduce the amount of fat stored in the liver of mice, thereby protecting the liver.

Another benefit is green tea, which can help reduce overall fat content and alleviate other symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, some plant-based foods, such as avocados, figs, broccoli, papaya, etc., also have a certain protective effect on the liver.

If you want to protect your liver, you should avoid the foods that are harmful to your liver mentioned above, and eat more foods that have a protective effect on your liver. However, it is important to note that it is not enough to eat a single food that has a protective effect on your liver. The most important thing is to achieve a balanced diet.

Let's go back to the beginning of the article and mention that there are many reasons that can cause elevated transaminase levels, so if we want to solve it, we need to first identify the cause and then address it accordingly.

For example, if it is caused by certain lifestyles, we need to develop good habits, including staying up late less and ensuring at least 8 hours of sleep per day; Maintain a balanced diet, eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat, and avoid overeating; Proper exercise not only protects the liver, but also greatly helps maintain physical health.

Secondly, we need to do an antibody against hepatitis B and hepatitis C to see if there is hepatitis virus infection. If the infection is real, timely treatment is enough. Most of hepatitis C can be cured. If hepatitis B is real, it needs to decide whether to take antiviral treatment according to the situation.

Finally, one thing to note is not to rush into taking medication. Medication is mainly broken down by the liver, and if used incorrectly, it can also cause significant damage to the liver. Therefore, it is best to take medication on time and in the appropriate amount under the guidance of a doctor, in order to solve problems better and faster.

To some extent, a high transaminase level still indicates that liver function is starting to malfunction. Therefore, we should not be careless at this time, and of course, there is no need to worry excessively. We should make timely judgments based on other examination items, identify the cause, and then make targeted adjustments.