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What Does High AST Levels Indicate?
Question: I just did a routine health screen at the office and got a result of 91 on AST (elevated) and 64 on ALT (Within normal range). I do high levels of working out with Crossfit and cardio. Could this elevation be due to muscle tearing? All other blood counts are normal.
Brief Answer:
It might be due to hard exercising.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and read in details your tests report.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is found in high concentrations in liver, heart, skeletal muscle and kidney. High levels of AST can be found in cases such as myocardial infarction, acute liver cell damage, viral hepatitis. Slight to moderate elevation of AST is seen in muscle injuries.
Since your AST is slightly elevated and your ALT is in normal range (because in liver disease they values are typically at least 10 times above the normal range) and your Bilirubin level,Albumin level are in normal range then liver disease is excluded as a possible cause of AST elevation.
Hard exercising might be the cause of this AST elevation.
You don't need to worry.
I suggest you not to exercise, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and taking painkiller such as Tylenol during one week and then repeat your blood test(liver function tests).
If the cause was crossfit then the AST level will come in normal range in the second test.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any further question.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
It might be due to hard exercising.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and read in details your tests report.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is found in high concentrations in liver, heart, skeletal muscle and kidney. High levels of AST can be found in cases such as myocardial infarction, acute liver cell damage, viral hepatitis. Slight to moderate elevation of AST is seen in muscle injuries.
Since your AST is slightly elevated and your ALT is in normal range (because in liver disease they values are typically at least 10 times above the normal range) and your Bilirubin level,Albumin level are in normal range then liver disease is excluded as a possible cause of AST elevation.
Hard exercising might be the cause of this AST elevation.
You don't need to worry.
I suggest you not to exercise, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and taking painkiller such as Tylenol during one week and then repeat your blood test(liver function tests).
If the cause was crossfit then the AST level will come in normal range in the second test.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any further question.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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