Liver
12 markers in this category
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that in adults comes mainly from two tissues. Those are the bile ducts in your liver, and your bones. After sixty that balance shifts. Bone turnover picks up again, and the normal range rises with it. That is exactly why this result is so often misread in later life. A number that falls outside the line for a thirty-year-old may sit inside your own band. This page sets out what does and does not matter.
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
An ALT blood test measures alanine aminotransferase, an enzyme that sits mainly in the liver. If it ends up in the blood, liver cells have been damaged. In men the limit is 45 u/l, in women 34 u/l. For anyone losing weight this is one of the most useful values on the report. Fatty liver is the most common cause of a mildly raised number. And it is exactly the value that comes down as you lose weight.
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
If you take medication, AST is probably on your report to monitor that medication. AST is an enzyme from your liver and your muscles, which explains why it comes up alongside muscle complaints. On older reports it is called SGOT. A raised value does not mean you should stop your medicine, and that decision is not yours alone in any case. There is something else few people know: as you lose muscle over the years, your baseline drops with it, which makes a normal result less reassuring than it looks.
Albumin
Albumin levels can decline with age due to changes in liver function and nutrition. Monitoring supports awareness of liver health and nutritional adequacy in later years.
Amylase
Amylase monitoring is important for seniors, as pancreatic function may change with age. Regular testing helps detect digestive health changes early.
Bilirubin (Direct)
Direct bilirubin monitoring is particularly relevant for seniors, as age-related changes in liver function and increased medication use can affect bilirubin metabolism. The risk of gallstones and bile duct conditions also increases with age.
Bilirubin (Indirect)
Indirect bilirubin is the part of your bilirubin that your liver has not yet processed. The value is not measured separately but calculated: your total bilirubin minus your direct bilirubin, in the same unit. That split helps to show where an abnormal total is coming from. This page explains what your indirect bilirubin result can mean.
Bilirubin (Total)
Total bilirubin monitoring is especially relevant for seniors, as age-related liver changes and multiple medication use can affect bilirubin processing. Regular testing helps identify liver or bile duct conditions that become more common with advancing age.
GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)
GGT monitoring is particularly important for older adults, as age-related changes and the use of multiple medications can affect liver and bile duct function. Regular testing supports early detection and helps guide medication management.
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase)
LDH is an enzyme found in every tissue of your body, including your liver. Its full name is lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This test measures how much LDH is circulating in your blood. Once cells break down, LDH passes into your bloodstream. During a weight-loss programme that is more interesting than it sounds. Your body is breaking down tissue in that period, and part of that is the point. The question is which tissue. A raised LDH says breakdown is happening, but not whether it is fat, muscle or something else.
Lipase
Lipase monitoring is important for older adults, as pancreatic enzyme production may decrease with age, potentially affecting fat digestion and nutrient absorption. Regular testing helps identify age-related changes in pancreatic function early.
Liver Function Test (LFT)
A liver function test is particularly important for older adults, as liver function may gradually decline with age. The use of multiple medications, age-related metabolic changes, and reduced regenerative capacity make comprehensive liver screening a valuable part of healthy ageing.