Liver Function Blood Markers

Enzyme primarily found in the liver. Elevated levels indicate liver cell damage.

PED: Oral AAS (especially 17-alpha alkylated compounds like Dianabol, Anadrol, Winstrol) significantly elevate ALT. Intense weight training can also cause mild elevation. Values 2-3x upper limit common on orals. Values up to ~100 U/L on oral AAS are common but should not be ignored long-term.

Enzyme found in liver, heart, and muscles. Elevated by liver damage or muscle breakdown.

PED: Both liver stress and heavy training elevate AST. Post-workout AST can be 2-3x normal. When AST is elevated but ALT is normal, it often indicates muscle damage rather than liver issues. Oral AAS will elevate both. Key diagnostic tip: if AST is high but ALT and GGT are normal, it is almost certainly muscle damage from training -- not liver stress.

Enzyme involved in bile duct function. Sensitive marker for liver/bile duct issues and alcohol use.

PED: Can be elevated by oral AAS. More specific to liver than AST/ALT since it's not affected by muscle damage. Good confirmatory test for liver stress vs training-induced elevation. If GGT is elevated alongside ALT/AST, liver stress is confirmed. If GGT is normal but AST/ALT are elevated, the elevation is likely from muscle damage, not liver.

Enzyme found in liver, bones, and other tissues. Elevated in liver or bone disorders.

PED: Less commonly affected by AAS than ALT/AST. Can be mildly elevated with bone-loading exercise. If elevated with normal GGT, likely bone origin rather than liver.

Waste product from red blood cell breakdown. Elevated in liver disease or Gilbert's syndrome.

PED: Usually not significantly affected by AAS alone. Elevation alongside elevated liver enzymes suggests more serious liver stress. Gilbert's syndrome (benign) is common and causes chronically mild elevation.

Protein made by the liver. Low levels indicate liver dysfunction or malnutrition.

PED: Generally stable in AAS users unless significant liver compromise. High protein diets can support albumin levels. Dehydration can falsely elevate.

Total amount of protein in the blood including albumin and globulins.

PED: High protein diets and training can push toward upper range. Dehydration can artificially elevate. Not a major concern marker for AAS users.

Group of proteins made by the liver and immune system. Includes immunoglobulins.

PED: Generally not significantly affected by AAS. Elevated globulin can indicate chronic inflammation or infection. Calculated as Total Protein minus Albumin.

Enzyme found in most tissues. Elevated levels indicate tissue damage in the heart, liver, kidneys, muscles, or red blood cells.

PED: Commonly elevated in bodybuilders due to intense training (skeletal muscle damage), haemolysis from heavy exercise, and hepatic stress from oral 17-alpha-alkylated AAS. Not specific to any single organ — must interpret alongside organ-specific markers (ALT/AST for liver, CK for muscle, haptoglobin for haemolysis). Post-workout LDH can remain elevated for 24-72 hours.

Calculated ratio of serum albumin to globulin. Reflects the balance between hepatic synthetic function and immune/inflammatory protein production.

PED: Oral 17-alpha-alkylated AAS can increase hepatic albumin synthesis, potentially raising the ratio. If hepatotoxicity progresses, albumin drops and the ratio falls. Intense training stimulates albumin synthesis during recovery. High-protein diets support albumin production. Chronic inflammation from overtraining or joint injuries elevates globulins, lowering the ratio. Dehydration concentrates all proteins but can disproportionately affect the ratio. Interpret alongside albumin, globulin, total protein, and liver function markers.