High liver enzyme count remedies: why do liver enzyme counts increase?

High liver enzyme counts are usually symptomatic of another problem. These can be cirrhosis of the liver, liver damage, and hepatitis. All of these conditions are characterized by the presence of a liver enzyme level in the blood stream. The most common enzymes that are detected are Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGPT and SGOT). When elevated levels of these are also combined with other tests like the Bilirubin test, a case of hepatitis is usually confirmed. In case of other kinds of damage that are not caused by an infection, for example liver damage caused by alcohol, the elevated levels of SGPT and SGOT are usually enough.

The first question that comes to mind is, why do liver enzyme counts increase? This is not because of an increase of the liver’s production of enzymes necessarily but more because of the damage caused to the liver walls that cause more of these enzymes to leech out into the bloodstream. Over the course of time, these enzymes will even affect the skin and cause itching. In the blood stream, this will cause darkened urine, despite adequate water intake. In most conditions, and depending on the exact increased enzyme levels, treatment consists of allowing the liver to return to normal and allowing it to rest. The reason for this is that the liver is the only organ in the body that has the ability to completely repair itself. In fact, in some cases where the liver has been destroyed to just 25 per cent of it remaining, it can completely grow back to its original state because of the presence stem-cell like regenerative cells. During this period when the liver is allowed to repair itself, the most important thing that one can do is cooperate with the liver by resting in bed and getting a lot of sleep – this might be quite easy considering how tired a malfunctioning liver can make you. This is because the body’s metabolism, digestion, and sugar absorption takes place in the liver.

A dietary change is also required and should resemble the typical diet of a hepatitis patient. No alcohol should ever be taken. Oils and fat based food should completely be avoided in this time as their conversion to fatty acids and glycerol takes place in the liver. All food should be boiled or baked, no spice can be used – in fact only salt is permitted, carbohydrate intake must be high to allow the liver to regenerate – as a lot of energy is required for the repair. Vegetables and protein, from vegetable sources should be used.