I'm expecting I will get reference values of what would be considered normal and if I'm outside any of those, I'll look it up.
The question I have remaining is, will the blood tests I was proposed cover the list? a
You'll have to ask the lab itself. Since each lab sells different bundles of lab tests under their designation. For example I see RDWs in CBCs included - complete blood counts - in mine they haven't been even once, by different labs.
I'm expecting I will get reference values of what would be considered normal and if I'm outside any of those, I'll look it up.
As said. Educate yourself what 'normal' means. With most lab-test normal its a statistical construct, where 95% of lab result of all tested are arbitrarily considered normal, the remaining tiny fraction above and below as abnormal, like in an Gausean curve:
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In reality most lab tests are done on people with health problems, some consider nowadays only about 1 in 10 metabolicaly healthy. Therefore normal in a lab-test only means your are 'normal', as an average unhealthy. With advancing age usually suffering CVD or cancer.
Therefore some try to tweak to references which are shown in the literature to correlate with longevity. Like LabTestAnalyser by Joe Cohen, a commercial service which manually sifted through as much as possible of literature to find such more telling reference range.
Just as one example on ALT already outdated 5 years, for not infringing on copyright:
ALT
Also known as:
Alanine aminotransferase, ALT (SGPT)
The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of ALT enzyme in the blood
ALT is an enzyme involved in the breakdown of proteins for energy in the body. It is mainly found in the liver, but also in smaller amounts in the kidney, heart, muscles, fat tissue, intestines, and pancreas [R].
Normally, ALT levels in the blood are low. However, when the liver is injured, ALT is released into the bloodstream [R].
ALT levels vary with gender, with higher values in men compared to women [R].
An ALT test is done to monitor liver health and determine if the liver is damaged or diseased [R].
Range
U/L
Low < 6.99
Sub-Optimal 7 - 16.99
Optimal 17 - 30
Supra-optimal 30.01 - 40
High > 40.01
Normal
Your ALT is within the normal range!
According to your ALT levels, you have a healthy liver and should be able to metabolize and absorb the proper nutrients from the food you eat.
You also have the lowest risk of all-cause mortality, and liver and heart disease-associated mortality [R, R, R, R, R].
Low
Your ALT levels are below normal!
Low ALT blood levels may indicate a vitamin B6 deficiency, but in general are not a cause for concern.
However, values in this range increase your risk of all-cause mortality [R, R].
ALT levels decrease with age [R].
Low ALT can be caused by:
· Physical activity [R]
· Coffee consumption [R]
· Smoking [R]
· Oral contraceptives [R]
· Hormonal replacement therapy [R]
· Vitamin B6 deficiency [R]
· Dialysis [R]
Green tea extract and milk thistle supplements also decrease ALT levels [R, R]
In general, you will not experience any symptoms. If the low ALT levels are due to a vitamin B6 deficiency, you may experience [R]:
· Depression
· Anxiety
· Weak immune system
· Irritability
Increase vitamin B6 intake - If the low levels are due to a vitamin B6 deficiency, consume more food sources of vitamin B6 such as organ meats, peanuts, legumes, potatoes and bananas [R].
Avoid smoking, as it can decrease vitamin B6 levels [R].
Reduce your coffee consumption [R].
Supplements that can help:
· Vitamin B6 (if deficient) [R]
High
Your ALT is above normal!
High levels of ALT in the blood may indicate a problem with the liver.
High ALT increases:
· Liver disease and liver-disease mortality [R, R, R]
· All-cause and heart disease mortality [R, R]
· Diabetes-related mortality [R]
Mexican-Americans had a higher prevalence of elevated ALT levels compared to other ethnicities [R, R].
High ALT can be caused by:
· Excessive alcohol intake [R]
· Strenuous exercise [R]
· 2nd trimester in normal pregnancy [R]
· Liver disease or damage [R]
· Muscle disease or injury [R, R]
· Lead or mercury exposure [R]
· Pesticide exposure [R]
· Iron overload [R]
· Too much copper in the body (Wilson’s disease) [R]
· Gallstones and gallstone induced pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis) [R, R]
· Underactive and overactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) [R, R]
· Surgery [R, R]
· Burns [R]
· Anorexia [R]
· Mononucleosis (“kissing disease”)[R]
Drugs that elevate ALT levels include:
· Cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g., statins) [R]
· Acetaminophen(Tylenol, Panadol) [R]
· Antibiotics [R]
· Antituberculosis drugs [R]
· Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e., aspirin) [R, R]
· Chemotherapy [R]
· Opioids [R]
Supplements can also increase ALT, such as:
· Kava [R]
· Black cohosh [R]
· Red yeast rice [R]
· Iron [R]
· Aloe [R]
You may or may not experience any symptoms, depending on the underlying cause of the high ALT levels. If liver disease is the source, you may experience symptoms like [R, R, R]:
· Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
· Dark-colored urine
· Nausea and vomiting
· Chills
· Fever
· Loss of appetite
· Weakness/fatigue
· Disorientation or confusion
Seek medical attention for any underlying condition!
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition commonly associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Excessive intake of soft drinks, and foods with high fructose corn syrup can lead to insulin resistance and NAFLD. Limit fatty foods such as meats, processed foods, fried foods, fast foods and dairy. Opt for salads with grilled lean meats like chicken and fish [R, R].
Drinking moderate amounts of coffee (regardless of caffeine content) on a regular basis may benefit liver health and lower liver enzymes in the blood, such as ALT [R, R].
Attempt to buy organic meats and vegetables whenever possible to avoid the chemical additives and pesticides [R].
Increase foods that can help detoxify the liver and kidneys such as asparagus, cabbage, and broccoli [R].
Go to the sauna - saunas are beneficial for decreasing toxins in the body. Sweating is your body’s method of detoxification [R].
Refrain from drinking alcohol - Over consumption of alcohol can directly damage liver cells and worsen existing liver conditions. Avoid drinking alcohol until your ALT levels return to the normal range, even if the cause is not alcohol related [R].
Review your medications - some drugs or supplements can damage the liver, leading to high ALT levels. Have a doctor or pharmacist review your medications to see if any could be harmful to the liver [R, R].
Excess iron buildup in your body (called hemochromatosis) can lead to elevated levels of liver enzymes too — this may be an issue if you're getting iron shots from your doctor to combat iron-deficiency anemia [R].
Supplements that can help:
· Alpha lipoic acid [R]
· Green tea extract [R]
· Milk thistle [R]
· Probiotics [R]
· N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) [R]
· Tudca [R]
· Curcumin [R]
· Capsaicin [R]
