Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage

TropicStrength · Post by **TropicStrength** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:30 am

Got my labs back. AST is 85 and ALT is 70. I trained heavy legs 24 hours prior. Is this likely muscle damage rather than liver stress?

AndeanLifter · Post by **AndeanLifter** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:15 am

Almost certainly. Check your GGT. If GGT is low, the enzymes are coming from skeletal muscle breakdown, not liver hepatocytes.

MedellinMuscle · Post by **MedellinMuscle** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:00 am

Check your Creatine Kinase (CK) as well. If that is elevated, it confirms the muscular origin of the AST/ALT.

CaliFlex · Post by **CaliFlex** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:45 am

I had a doc freak out over this once. I told him I deadlifted 500lbs the day before and he just stared at me blankly.

LatinoBulk · Post by **LatinoBulk** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 5:35 am

Always take at least 5-7 days off training before blood work if you want "clean" liver markers. Muscle micro-tears leak enzymes.

TropicStrength · Post by **TropicStrength** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:25 am

Good tip. My CK was actually 1200, so that explains a lot.

AndeanLifter · Post by **AndeanLifter** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 7:10 am

1200 is actually quite normal for a heavy lifter. I've seen guys hit 3000 after a high-volume session.

MedellinMuscle · Post by **MedellinMuscle** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 7:55 am

Did you look at your Bilirubin levels? If those are normal, your liver is likely fine.

TropicStrength · Post by **TropicStrength** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 8:40 am

Bilirubin was 0.8 mg/dL. So well within range.

CaliFlex · Post by **CaliFlex** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:25 am

You are solid then. Just typical trainee bloods.