I recently had some blood work done and my liver enzymes came back elevated. I had them checked again a month later and they were still high. The doc said it's probably a result of my running. Anyone else experience this?
I recently had some blood work done and my liver enzymes came back elevated. I had them checked again a month later and they were still high. The doc said it's probably a result of my running. Anyone else experience this?
Mine are usually elevated also. I attributed it to the fact that I drink beer daily. I would be interested in hearing why your doctor thinks running is involved.
Yep
Are you taking a statin?
It is normal for runners to have elevated liver enzyme levels.
Why? Because of all the metabolic activity that goes on in the liver due to running. For example, the amount of lactate cleared in the liver, or the amount of protein catabolism going on in the body.
You are either an alcoholic, have hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatitis.
Not taking any statins but I do enjoy a few beers in the evening
RunningGeezer wrote:
I recently had some blood work done and my liver enzymes came back elevated. I had them checked again a month later and they were still high. The doc said it's probably a result of my running. Anyone else experience this?
Get tested for Hep C ASAP.
I am not a doctor, but this has always been how I understood the situation. If you are talking bilirubin, it will be high as running causes red blood cell destruction (hemolysis), and processing of those destroyed cells occurs in the liver, thus the high byproduct. I have been told by cardiologists that a very highly trained runner can have blood work resembling a heart attack victim as the destroyed, immature RBC's and the Bilirubin count are similar.
RunningGeezer wrote:
I recently had some blood work done and my liver enzymes came back elevated. I had them checked again a month later and they were still high. The doc said it's probably a result of my running. Anyone else experience this?
"Liver" enzymes can be elevated from intense exercise. It depends on which enzymes, but these enzymes are found in other cells besides the liver, so muscle injury for example, can cause the release in transaminases into your circulation and give you an abnormal/high result. Hemolysis or the rupture of red blood cells can also cause this.
Yup, it happened to me off and on during 2006. The doctor freaked out and ran every hepatitis panel she could. I had them checked about every 3 months or so and sometimes the readings were normal, sometimes elevated. I did some of my own research and found what the previous poster did regarding intense exercise elevating the liver enzymes. I would still have it checked out though.
I had an elevated liver test as well and then they did more blood test to try and isolate it and from that they ruled out Hep A,B or C, so the next step was a liver biopsy where they do a sonagram to locate liver and then make an incision (while you are awake, local numbing only) and "punch" a piece of your liver out to test it. You hope they get it the first time. Turned out to be a liver Autoimmune diease. Pretty much body attacking the liver. Been in remission for about 5 years, so feeling pretty good. It does make you tired though. Get further testing to be sure it isn't something more than your high level of training. Good Luck.
thanks everyone
yep, got mine checked before i was supposed to start a new medication, and they were elevated. doctors freaked out and tested me for hepatitis, etc...everything came back negative.
Get checked for mono or the Epstein Barr Virus.
I have high liver enzymes. I had the biopsy done. I just have fatty liver. Maybe I need to lose weight!! But get it checked out. Also, don't exercise for about 2 or 3 days next time you get a blood test. Exercise will increase liver function. This is just everything I was told by the doc.
Or an ultrarunner
Bump, had a similar issue with bloodwork last year (elevated AST), and the doctor told me it was mono, after dozens of tests for Hepatitis etc... Had another routine blood test for my physical this year less than a week after a marathon and they (AST levels) were still high. This thread helped lead me to medical reports to verify the claims of exercise and its effect on these levels.. Definitely less on edge now.
Over trained anorexic runners will show elevated liver enzymes.