AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is one of the two liver enzymes. It is also known as serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT. AST is a protein made by liver cells. When liver cells are damaged, AST leaks out into the bloodstream and the level of AST in the blood becomes elevated. AST is different from ALT because AST is found in parts of the body other than the liver–including the heart, kidneys, muscles, and brain. When cells in any of those parts of the body are damaged, AST can be elevated.things that cause
- You’ve been exposed to hepatitis
- You drink a lot of alcohol.
- You take medicine that’s known to damage the liver.
- You have a family history of liver disease.
- You have obesity
- You have diabetes
- You’ve had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Diet
Things that can help. - Limit your alcohol intake. Chronic alcohol use will lead to an increase in AST levels because ethanol is actually toxic to the liver cells and damages them.
- Lose weight via a low-calorie diet. There are many reasons to lose weight, such as reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, but slimming down by reducing your daily caloric intake is also linked to lower AST levels.
- Add some coffee to your diet. Research conducted in 2014 concluded that drinking moderate amounts of regular or decaffeinated coffee on a regular basis may benefit liver health.
- Milk thistle supplements. Milk thistle is an ancient herbal remedy used for numerous ailments, including liver, kidney and gallbladder problems. Several scientific studies conclude that compounds in milk thistle.
- Silymarin also has strong antioxidant anti inflammatory benefits
- Turmeric powder.
- Lastly certain compounds can cause liver damage. (Anadrol, Dbol) Make sure you are not on a continuous cycle of these harsh compounds. If on meds, look at the effect on the liver from prescription drugs you are taking.
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