Aspartate transaminase (AST) is an enzyme found in the liver, heart, pancreas, kidneys, muscles and red blood cells. It does not normally circulate in high quantities in the blood (0-42 U / l), but increases when organs or muscles are damaged by liver disease, heart attacks or car accidents. Blood tests can measure the level of AST and other liver enzymes (such as alanine aminotransferase or ALT) to determine if the liver, another organ or tissue has been damaged. If the values are high due to some liver dysfunction, you can lower them by making lifestyle changes, taking herbal supplements, and following drug therapy.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Lower AST Levels Naturally
Step 1. Limit your alcohol consumption
Chronic alcohol consumption causes AST levels to rise because ethanol is toxic and damages liver cells. Drinking a glass of wine, a beer, a whiskey, a cocktail from time to time does not involve significant alterations to AST or other liver enzymes, but an average and prolonged consumption over time (more than a couple of drinks a day) or colossal hangover on weekends negatively affects enzyme levels.
- If you are a moderate or heavy drinker, or if you indulge in a lot of hangover and your aspartate transaminase levels are high enough, you can lower them by moderating or even avoiding drinking. It will probably take you a couple of weeks or so to see your condition normalize with the blood tests.
- By drinking in a balanced way (less than one drink a day), it is possible to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, even if the action of ethanol remains slightly harmful to the cells of the liver and pancreas.
- AST and ALT are the values that detect liver damage, even if the former provides more general indications than the latter.
Step 2. Lose weight on a calorie restricted diet
There are many reasons for losing weight, such as decreasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks, but reducing the daily calorie intake can also lower AST levels. Scientists believe that a lower body mass combined with a lower amount of refined sugars, saturated fats and preservatives lightens the workload of the liver allowing it to recover (this result is reflected in a lowering of transaminases). Low-calorie diets usually suggest eating less saturated fats and refined sugars and switching to lean meats, fish, whole grains, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
- The values of AST and other liver enzymes tend to decrease in men who adopt a low-calorie diet, while in women who follow the same diet there is sometimes an initial "increase" in AST levels before significantly lowering. within a few weeks.
- Typically, in women a caloric intake of less than 2000 calories per day results in a weekly weight loss of about half a kilo even if physical activity is mild. On the other hand, men lose weight when they consume less than 2200 calories per day.
- Losing weight by following high intensity training and weight lifting is very good for your health, but AST levels can increase due to continual, albeit minimal, muscle damage.
Step 3. Add coffee to your diet
Research conducted in 2014 concluded that a moderate and regular amount of regular or decaffeinated coffee can promote liver health and reduce liver enzymes, such as AST. In fact, it seems that, in addition to caffeine, other substances contained in coffee also help protect or heal liver cells. Scientists aren't sure, but they think the antioxidants in coffee are beneficial to the liver and other organs.
- Study participants who drank at least three cups of coffee a day had lower liver enzyme levels than those who consumed none at all.
- Previous research has found that moderate coffee consumption can also help reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver conditions, such as cirrhosis and cancer.
- If you plan to keep your AST levels under control and recover from a liver disease, decaffeinated coffee is probably the best choice because it causes fewer side effects associated with moderate / high caffeine intake (sleep disruption, nervousness, gastrointestinal upset and more).
Step 4. Consider milk thistle supplements
Milk thistle is an ancient herbal remedy used for numerous ailments, including liver, kidney and gallbladder problems. Several scientific studies have concluded that the substances contained in milk thistle (especially silymarin) help protect the liver from toxins and stimulate its healing by developing new liver cells. Silymarin also has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is unclear to what extent it is capable of lowering AST and other liver enzymes as research is somewhat contested. Thanks to the near-total lack of side effects, milk thistle is worth a try if you're looking for a natural remedy to treat a liver ailment, even if it doesn't dramatically impact transaminase levels.
- Typically, milk thistle supplements contain 70-80% silymarin and are sold in the form of capsules, extracts, and tinctures at most health food stores and health food stores.
- The dose of milk thistle for those with liver problems is 200-300 mg, 3 times a day.
- Liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis (A, B, and C), alcoholic cirrhosis, liver congestion, and toxic hepatitis, are the most common causes of moderate / high increases in AST levels in the blood.
Step 5. Try using turmeric powder
Clinically proven, it is a plant with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that helps to heal numerous organs of the body, including the liver. The most healing substance present inside is curcumin: it has been shown to lower the levels of liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in animals and people. To obtain a significant result on these values, it is necessary to take about 3,000 mg per day, for up to 12 weeks.
- Curcumin is also associated with reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and numerous cancers.
- Curry powder, widely used in Indian and Asian cooking, is rich in turmeric, the spice that gives it that distinctive yellow color.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Medical Assistance to Lower AST Levels
Step 1. See your doctor
Typically, doctors order blood tests to look at AST and alt="Image" levels when patients have symptoms attributable to a liver problem. Common symptoms related to inflammation, injury, damage, liver dysfunction include: yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark colored urine, swelling and tenderness in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, weakness / fatigue, disorientation or confusion and sleepiness. Before making a diagnosis, the doctor evaluates the values of liver enzymes "in addition" to the symptoms, physical examination, positive diagnostic tests (ultrasound, magnetic resonance) and possibly a liver biopsy (taking a tissue sample).
- There are several causes of acute liver failure which in a healthy person can develop very quickly (in a few days) and become dangerous, so it is necessary to carefully consider the increase in levels of AST and other enzymes.
- In addition to evaluating the aforementioned signs and symptoms, the doctor may prescribe the liver panel (group of tests to measure all liver values) to patients who use prolonged use of drugs, to heavy drinkers or alcoholics, to those who have suffered from hepatitis, have diabetes or are obese.
Step 2. Ask your doctor if you can stop some medications
Theoretically, all drugs can damage the liver and cause an increase in liver enzymes in the blood (including AST), but this risk usually depends on the dosage and duration of use. Like alcohol, all molecules are metabolized (broken down) in the liver, so there is a possibility that this organ becomes overloaded. That said, some drugs (or the substances into which they are broken down) are more toxic to the liver than others. For example, statins (used to lower blood cholesterol) and acetaminophen (Tachipirina) negatively affect the liver more than many other drugs.
- If your AST levels are high and you are on statin and / or acetaminophen therapy, consult your doctor to find out if you can take alternative medications or remedies to manage high cholesterol and / or chronic pain. At the very least, the dosage should be adjusted.
- When you stop taking medications that have a particularly toxic effect on the liver, AST levels naturally drop within a few weeks.
- An abnormal accumulation of iron in the body (called hemochromatosis) can also raise liver enzyme values. It could be a problem if you have been prescribed iron injections to combat iron deficiency anemia.
- Paracetamol is not toxic to the liver if this organ is healthy and the intake is normal. Always follow dosage instructions and doctor's recommendations.
Step 3. Get drug therapy to fight liver disease
As noted above, there are a number of liver diseases (and other disorders) that increase levels of AST and other enzymes in the blood. However, certain medications help fight viral infections (hepatitis A, B and C), cirrhosis (accumulation of fat and liver dysfunction caused by alcohol abuse) and cancer. Ask your doctor what treatment options are available to you. They could also include a liver transplant if the liver is irreversibly ill. Also learn about the side effects associated with taking such powerful drugs.
- Typically, hepatitis B is treated with lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, while in the case of hepatitis C a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin is taken.
- Diuretic drugs are used to treat cirrhosis (to relieve edema), while laxatives (such as lactulose) help absorb toxins from the blood and lighten the liver workload.
- To fight liver cancer, some chemotherapy drugs are used (oxaliplatin, capecitabine, gemcitabine), but also very targeted therapies based on injections of sorafenib (Nexavar) directly into the tumor mass.
Advice
- Healthcare professionals are prone to increased AST levels because they are more exposed to hepatitis B through contact with the blood and fluids of infected people. Therefore, they should get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
- More than 5.5 million Americans suffer from cirrhosis or chronic liver disease.
- AST levels appear to increase in response to acute liver damage caused by toxins, alcohol, or drugs.
