Heavy Exercise, High Liver Function Tests

Per the thread and comments made about exercise vs ALT, AST (...Typical pattern after heavy, weight bearing exercise involving muscle damage... begins a 8-14 hrs after the workout, peaks in 24-48 hrs, and returns to normal in 4-6 days), I have a question. What if you are an exercise freak and work out really hard, cardio, stationary bike, elyptical, etc to the tune of 900 cal per hour, then do some weight training, AND this is done pretty much daily, maybe 7 of every 8 days? Would you ever expect the ALT and AST numbers to drop? My levels started increasing three years ago, during yearly screening and this time the albumin and bilirubin numbers slightly elevated. The ALT was 184, and AST 120. However, I worked out hard the three days before the testing. I recall having sore thighs after a particularly intense 65 min bike ride 3 days prior. I have also periodically take presciption aleeve for arthitis. My question is this: How long does it take for the levels to return to normal if you stop exercising (assuming that was a factor in the levels rising), and if they continue high because you exercise hard, is that a problem?

thanks
j


This discussion is related to AST/ALT Levels and Exercise.

[WasWorried24]

Recently, I had started exercising using weightlifting techniques. This is after living a sedentary lifestyle for several years. My doctor ordered an ALT (ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE) blood test. The enzyme level came back at over 6 times the normal rate. He was concerned and ordered a more complete liver function panel including ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE, BILIRUBIN, AST (ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE), and ALT (ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE). I expected the results for the ALT and the AST to be high and the other two labs to be in the normal range, because I was still hitting the weights hard.

I was sore when I did the second round of testing. The ALT and AST were both high. The bilirubin and alkaline phosphate came back in the normal range. I expected this because of my continued weightlifting and because of an article I found on the internet (google: ALT exercise Jonas Pettersson). The article was a study published by the British Pharmacological Society and the BJCP.

My doctor was(is) convinced that I had(have) serious health problems resulting from alcohol. However, I was feeling great and running several miles three or four times a week. As well, I was lifting weights. He ordered an ultrasound of my liver and the ultrasound was found to be normal. He then ordered followup  ALT and AST testing.

Before I took the third set of blood tests, I stopped lifting weights and only ran (jogging) for one week. I was enjoying running and actually got carried away, one day running almost 11 miles before I abstained from all exercise. I took an additional week off, not running or any other exercising. I was really sore from running and was afraid my enzyme levels were still high.

Before I went in to take the final tests, I made sure my muscles were not sore. It totaled two weeks without weight lifting and only one week no running. The ALT and AST came back in the normal range. This happened one month after both ALT and AST levels were roughly 6 times outside normal. If it was not for the article by BJCP and subsequent forum searches, my doctor would have convinced me that I had drilled holes in my liver with alcohol.