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Hi! I Am 26 Year Old Male. Very Active. 6'3
Question: Hi! I am 26 year old male. Very active. 6'3 175 pounds. Last year my ALT level was 44. This year it is 55. 6 months ago I started to take a herbal supplement called Ashwaganda, which is too help anixety. My doctor wants me to stop taking it for 2 weeks to see if that is the cause of my raised ALT levels. I have not had a sip of alcohol since i was 21
Brief Answer:
Ashwagandha rarely may cause liver injury and raised liver enzymes like ALT
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the query.
I can understand your concern.
As per your statement, last year your ALT was 44, and this year, it is 55. You had started to take Ashwagandha 6 months ago for relieving anxiety.
Ashwagandha is a popular herb that is used to increase energy and reduce anxiety or stress. It is usually liver-friendly and helps to reduce liver enzymes like AST, ALT, etc. But, a recent study has shown that it may cause liver injury in rare cases and raise liver enzymes like ALT. As you have already stopped talking Ashwagandha according to your doctor's advice, so do repeat the liver function tests after one month. If your ALT declines in liver function tests, then it will be obvious that Ashwagandha is responsible for your raised ALT.
Take care.
Hope I have answered your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam,
General and Family Physician,
Ashwagandha rarely may cause liver injury and raised liver enzymes like ALT
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the query.
I can understand your concern.
As per your statement, last year your ALT was 44, and this year, it is 55. You had started to take Ashwagandha 6 months ago for relieving anxiety.
Ashwagandha is a popular herb that is used to increase energy and reduce anxiety or stress. It is usually liver-friendly and helps to reduce liver enzymes like AST, ALT, etc. But, a recent study has shown that it may cause liver injury in rare cases and raise liver enzymes like ALT. As you have already stopped talking Ashwagandha according to your doctor's advice, so do repeat the liver function tests after one month. If your ALT declines in liver function tests, then it will be obvious that Ashwagandha is responsible for your raised ALT.
Take care.
Hope I have answered your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam,
General and Family Physician,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Your ALT level is not serious and nothing to be worried.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for joining again.
ALT level may vary from laboratory to laboratory due to different regimens, techniques, instruments, etc. As your ALT level is 55 but your normal lab value is below 45, so your ALT is very slightly raised according to your lab value. Levels are normally raised in men.
Slightly raised ALT level may find in routine blood tests. In most cases, mildly and temporarily raised ALT level or bilirubin level doesn't indicate a chronic or serious liver problem. Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than normal. So, your ALT 55 U/L or bilirubin 1.5 indicates nothing.
Such type of raised ALT may result from obesity, medications like statin, painkillers like acetaminophen, increased body mass, etc.
So, your ALT may result from increased body mass or a history of taking Ashwagandha.
Take complete rest for a few days and avoid fatty foods by taking plenty of fluids. Do repeat your liver function tests after one month. Hope, your ALT, and bilirubin level will come back to normal value.
Hope I have answered your question.
In case of any other query let me know and I will try to reply to you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam,
General, And Family Physician,
Your ALT level is not serious and nothing to be worried.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for joining again.
ALT level may vary from laboratory to laboratory due to different regimens, techniques, instruments, etc. As your ALT level is 55 but your normal lab value is below 45, so your ALT is very slightly raised according to your lab value. Levels are normally raised in men.
Slightly raised ALT level may find in routine blood tests. In most cases, mildly and temporarily raised ALT level or bilirubin level doesn't indicate a chronic or serious liver problem. Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than normal. So, your ALT 55 U/L or bilirubin 1.5 indicates nothing.
Such type of raised ALT may result from obesity, medications like statin, painkillers like acetaminophen, increased body mass, etc.
So, your ALT may result from increased body mass or a history of taking Ashwagandha.
Take complete rest for a few days and avoid fatty foods by taking plenty of fluids. Do repeat your liver function tests after one month. Hope, your ALT, and bilirubin level will come back to normal value.
Hope I have answered your question.
In case of any other query let me know and I will try to reply to you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam,
General, And Family Physician,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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