The liver is a very important vital organ that your body requires to be functioning optimally and when there is abnormal liver function, proper testing is required to monitor the health of your liver. The liver is an important filtering mechanism that performs extremely important bodily functions to keep you healthy. The liver weighs about 3 pounds, reddish brown in color and is made up of 4 lobes that are unequal in size and shape. Your blood is carried to your liver through two large blood vessels called the hepatic artery and the portal vein. The liver primarily functions to produce substances that will break down fats and convert glucose to glycogen, the production of urea, maintenance of blood glucose, storage of vitamins and minerals and most importantly filter harmful substances from the blood. Alcohol is the most well known substance to be filtered by the liver. All of this being said, when abnormal liver function onsets a person, it’s very important to test the liver for proper function. A hepatic profile or what could be called a liver function profile can be ordered to test for abnormal liver function.
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There is a group of tests called the liver function profile that can assess abnormal liver function. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) liver tests for enzymes that process amino acids and found inside healthy liver cells. Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) is found in liver cells of the bile duct walls and is one of many liver function blood tests for enzymes that helps amino acids travel across cell plasma membranes. Alkaline phosphatase ("alk phos") is an important enzyme in all cell types but has the highest concentration in bone, liver, intestines and placenta. Other abnormal liver function blood tests are compared to this when evaluating ones liver function status. Bilirubin is a normal byproduct of red blood cell recycling which is the main function of the liver. High Bilirubin levels causes jaundice (i.e., yellow skin color) or icterus (i.e., yellowing of the eyes) Albumin is created by the liver and is a major blood protein that helps transport other molecules in the bloodstream. Many abnormal liver function tests are based off of this result. Total protein is similar to albumin and combines many different blood proteins (i.e., albumin, immunoglobulin’s, clotting proteins, etc.) It’s an important liver enzyme to monitor in liver patients. Ammonia is measured to evaluate the normal process of removing the amino group present on all amino acids produces ammonia. It is typically processed by the liver into urea, which can be excreted by the kidneys. In a liver function tests profile, ammonia is a requirement. Prothrombin time and INR is typically considered a measure of blood-clotting function. As an abnormal liver function blood test, the ability to clot is very important.
Abnormal liver function test results can trigger a treatment regimen that will alter your diet to benefit your liver. There are certain foods that support liver health and contain certain nutrients that one’s body requires to produce and activate critical enzymes. These enzymes are involved in many different phases of detoxification of harmful chemicals. Some foods that are part of a diet to improve the liver based on abnormal liver function are onions, eggs, garlic and any food that has a increased sulfur content. Other foods that have a high content of water soluble fibers such as legumes, oat bran and fruits like pears. The cabbage family of vegetables which includes Brussels sprouts, cabbage, artichokes, beets, carrots, and most importantly broccoli. In addition you could include herbs and spices like red pepper, ginger, turmeric and licorice.
How does excessive alcohol drinking affect cause abnormal liver function? With moderate drinking, the liver can process alcohol fairly safely because of the moderation and slow intake of alcohol. Heavy drinking overwhelms the liver resulting in serious consequences that can cause damage to the liver. Fatty liver is the first stage of liver deterioration in heavy drinkers, and interferes with the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the liver cells which is critical to proper and balanced liver function. If the heavy drinking is consistent and the status of fatty liver is constant and the condition persists long enough, the liver cells will die, forming fibrous scar tissue which is the second stage of liver deterioration, or fibrosis. The last stage of deterioration, or cirrhosis, the damage to the liver cells is the least reversible. In each one of these phases abnormal liver function is present in different severities. In phase 1 abnormal liver function may not always be apparent but in phase 3 abnormal liver function is very obvious.
With the availability of online lab testing direct to consumers, measuring abnormal liver function is very easy for you to manage. It’s very simple to purchase a liver function profile online from the comfort of your own home and you get your lab prescription emailed to you. There are over two thousand lab draw centers all over the country so accessibility to get your blood drawn is not an issue. The best news is that you can get your lab results on your abnormal liver function tests within 24 to 48 hours.
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