Answers
High SGPT or SGOT in a liver test: what does it mean?
Short answer
SGPT (ALT) and SGOT (AST) are liver enzymes. A raised level means liver cells are irritated or injured. In India the commonest cause is fatty liver; alcohol, viral hepatitis and some medicines or herbal products are other common causes. A mild rise is usually not an emergency, but it should be explained, not ignored.
What the numbers mean
SGPT and SGOT leak into the blood when liver cells are irritated. A mild rise, up to about two to three times the upper limit, is common and is usually due to a long-term problem such as fatty liver. Very high levels, in the hundreds or thousands, suggest a sudden injury such as acute viral hepatitis, a medicine reaction or a blocked bile duct, and need prompt attention.
Other parts of the report matter too: bilirubin (jaundice), albumin and INR (how well the liver is working), and alkaline phosphatase and GGT (bile ducts).
Common causes
Hard exercise or a muscle injury can raise SGOT for a few days without any liver problem.
- Fatty liver, linked to weight, belly fat, diabetes and cholesterol
- Alcohol
- Hepatitis B or C, or recent hepatitis A or E
- Medicines, including some TB medicines, painkillers taken in excess and herbal or body-building supplements
- Less common: thyroid problems, celiac disease, autoimmune hepatitis and inherited conditions
What usually happens next
Your doctor may repeat the test, and check hepatitis B and C, blood sugar, cholesterol and thyroid, with an ultrasound of the abdomen. If fatty liver is found, a FibroScan helps check for scarring. Further tests are done if the cause is still unclear or the enzymes stay high.
What you can do
- Stop alcohol until the cause is known
- Do not start new herbal or 'liver tonic' products
- Tell your doctor about every medicine and supplement you take
- If you are overweight, losing 7 to 10% of body weight often brings enzymes back to normal
When to see a doctor quickly
See a doctor the same day if raised enzymes come with yellow eyes, dark urine, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness or bleeding. In an emergency, call 112.
Food for a healthier liver
Eat more
- Vegetables, salads and fruit at every meal, and dal, sprouts or chana for protein
- Whole grains and millets (atta with chokar, bajra, jowar, ragi) in place of maida
- Plain coffee without much sugar, if you already like it, seems safe and may help the liver
Cut down
- Alcohol, until the cause is known and ideally for good
- Sugar, sweets, cold drinks and packaged juices
- Fried snacks, bakery items and repeatedly heated oil
Good to know
- A 'liver detox' or tonic does not lower enzymes and some herbal products raise them.
- In fatty liver, slow weight loss of 7 to 10% is the most effective treatment.
Common questions
Is a slightly high SGPT dangerous?
Usually not an emergency, but it is a signal. A mild rise most often means fatty liver. The cause should be found and the test repeated, because silent liver scarring can build up over years.
How quickly can SGPT come down?
With weight loss, stopping alcohol and treating the cause, enzymes often improve within 3 to 6 months. After a viral hepatitis, they usually settle within weeks.
Can exercise or a gym supplement raise SGOT?
Yes. Hard exercise can raise SGOT for a few days from muscle, and some body-building supplements can injure the liver. Tell your doctor about workouts and supplements before testing.