High levels of AST in the blood may indicate hepatitis, cirrhosis, mononucleosis, or other liver diseases. High AST levels can also indicate heart problems or pancreatitis. If your results are not in the normal range, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition needing treatment.
What AST level is too high?
Typically the range for normal AST is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter and ALT between 7 to 56 units per liter. Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than the normal range. In some conditions, these enzymes can be severely elevated, in the 1000s range.
How can I lower my AST levels?
Natural ways to lower ALT levels
- Drinking coffee. Drinking coffee can help to lower ALT levels.
- Exercising regularly.
- Losing excess weight.
- Increasing folic acid intake.
- Making dietary changes.
- Reducing high cholesterol.
- Taking care with medications or supplements.
- Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and environmental toxins.
What medications cause elevated AST?
Common causes of abnormal AST and ALT levels are wide ranging (for example, toxins, and autoimmune diseases). Many drugs may cause elevated blood levels of AST, and ALT, and some medications can cause severe damage, for example, acetaminophen (Tylenol).
What are dangerous levels of AST?
Very high levels of AST (more than 10 times normal) are usually due to acute hepatitis, sometimes due to a viral infection. With acute hepatitis, AST levels usually stay high for about 1-2 months but can take as long as 3-6 months to return to normal.
What would cause a high AST?
High AST can be caused by liver diseases, myocardial infarction (heart attack), acute pancreatitis, acute hemolytic anemia, trauma (especially severe burns), acute kidney failure, diseases of the muscular and skeletal systems, and other causes. Sometimes the cause of the high AST result is obvious, e.g. if acute physical trauma is present.
What causes elevated AST levels?
High AST levels can also be produced by some types of cancer, recent ingestion of high amounts of vitamin A, mononucleosis, and as a side effect of a long list of medications, including statins (anti-cholesterol medication), many antibiotics, chemotherapy, large doses of aspirin, barbiturates, and opioid drugs (narcotics).
