What causes hige liver enzymes?
Liver enzymes (e.g. ALT, AST, GGT) are found in the cells of the liver. People can have high levels for two main reasons – the first reason is that something is happening to the liver cells to ‘irritate’ them or damage them, so that the enzymes leak out. The second reason is if the liver is having to work hard to process something, such as a particular medication a person is taking or alcohol they have drunk, the cells will increase their production of the enzymes. Some causes are (in rough order of likelihood): obesity high level of fat/lipids in the blood Drinking alcohol Various medications Gall stones Viral infection e.g.
