jeniaw

I recently had a series of blood tests for insurance purposes.  I am in generally good health, a little overweight at 212, 5ft. 7, and 53 years old, menopausal X 2 years.  My lab tests came back with mildly elevated Alk phos at 126 (their normals 20 - 115) and GGT 79 (2 - 65).  My HDL was mildly elevated at 59 (35 - 55) and LDL 147 (0 - 129), total Chol 236 (140 - 240).  I have had cholecystectomy approx. 10 yrs. ago.  Should I be worried?  I was taking Nyquil nightly for a cold, but I don't drink.  Needless to say, they denied me.  My lab work has always been wnl in the past.  Everything else was wnl.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

try to eat out less, or just eat 1/2 servings of what you're eating.  Your labs are not specific and need further follow up testing to see if anything is wrong, such as LFTs.

[vic_m]

if you're not taking any medications that can cause an elevation in alk phos or ggt, the cause of your abnormal lab results should be investigated. especially if this is an acute change, since you mentioned that in the past labs are wnl. what were your AST and ALT levels? any other health problems?

your lipid workup can be interpreted a few ways depending on your health and current health problems. the ATP3 can be used to assess your 10 year coronary risk:

http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=prof

your weight and height puts you at a BMI > 30. this puts you in the category of obese. for your height, a good goal would be 140. obviously that would be a long term goal, but reaching that would benefit your health a great deal.

finally, your elevated GGT and Alk Phos could be related to a fatty liver condition. it is seen in people that are overweight and in those that have bad diets. it doesn't necessarily affect people that abuse alcohol. in this case, it would be called NASH- non-alcoholic steatohepititis. the AST/ALT would be elevated; although that doesn't prove anything when taken on it's own.

the cause of your abnormal results should be found.

[jeniaw1]

Thanks,
That is what I was thinking as well, I am an RN and understand a little about it.  My ALT and AST were normal.  I looked back at some labwork I had done in July 07, and back in 05, both times the Alk phos were toward the high normal end.  Don't find any GGT results in past labs.  I realilze I need to lose weight!!!!!!!  We eat out a lot, but, I try to stay away from fried or bad fats.  I'm working on it.

[vic_m]

the high alk phos finding on it's own is very non-specific. a persistent high alk phos is less alarming than an acute change. normal liver enzymes cannot rule out a fatty liver. the ggt and alk phos elevation points to the liver. taken as a whole, fatty liver would still be high on the list. what does your doc say? if he or she is thinking this you may want to have some imaging done. biopsy is diagnostic but rather invasive. like i said previously, the cause should be investigated.

besides working on your diet you should find time for some physical activity. besides the fats, you should moderate your carbohydrate intake as well. keep working on it, you'll get there.