Certain proteins (enzymes) play an important role as biocatalysts in the metabolic processes in the liver. Monitoring these liver enzymes is a part of routine blood tests.
Elevated liver enzymes may indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the liver. However, they do not say anything about the type of liver disease. Evaluating enzyme levels requires medical experience, since some of the enzymes important for liver diagnostics also occur in cells of other organs. The most important factor is the enzyme pattern and how it correlates with further examination findings.
Liver Enzymes: Overview
Disorders in liver cells
| Parameter | Normal value |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | ♂ 10 – 50 U/l at 37°C ♀ 10 – 35 U/l at 37°C |
| Alanine transaminase (ALT) | ♂ 10 – 50 U/l at 37°C ♀ 10 – 35 U/l at 37°C |
| Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) | ♂ < 66 U/l at 37°C ♀ < 39 U/l at 37°C |
| Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH, GDH) | ♂ < 6.4 U/l ♀ < 4.8 U/l |
| Iron (FE) | ♂ 59 – 158 µg/dl ♀ 37 – 145 µg/dl |
| Zinc (Zn) | 46-150 µg/dl |
