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Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:30 am
by TropicStrength
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?
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:15 am
by AndeanLifter
Almost certainly. Check your GGT. If GGT is low, the enzymes are coming from skeletal muscle breakdown, not liver hepatocytes.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:00 am
by MedellinMuscle
Check your Creatine Kinase (CK) as well. If that is elevated, it confirms the muscular origin of the AST/ALT.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:45 am
by CaliFlex
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.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 5:35 am
by LatinoBulk
Always take at least 5-7 days off training before blood work if you want "clean" liver markers. Muscle micro-tears leak enzymes.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:25 am
by TropicStrength
Good tip. My CK was actually 1200, so that explains a lot.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 7:10 am
by AndeanLifter
1200 is actually quite normal for a heavy lifter. I've seen guys hit 3000 after a high-volume session.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 7:55 am
by MedellinMuscle
Did you look at your Bilirubin levels? If those are normal, your liver is likely fine.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 8:40 am
by TropicStrength
Bilirubin was 0.8 mg/dL. So well within range.
Re: Interpreting High AST/ALT Without Liver Damage
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:25 am
by CaliFlex
You are solid then. Just typical trainee bloods.