Total Bilirubin

Liver Function marker

Bilirubin

Total Bilirubin

Category: Liver Function
Unit: umol/L

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

PED Notes

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.

When high

Understanding Bilirubin:

  • Mild elevation (20-35 umol/L) with normal liver enzymes → likely Gilbert's syndrome (affects ~5-10% of population, benign)
  • Elevation with elevated ALT/AST/GGT → liver stress — address hepatotoxic compounds
  • Very high bilirubin (>50 umol/L) with jaundice → urgent medical evaluation required

Supplements:

  • NAC -- 600-1200mg/day (supports glutathione and liver detoxification pathways)
  • TUDCA -- 500mg/day (if liver-related elevation, improves bile flow)
  • Milk Thistle (Silymarin) -- 200-400mg/day (antioxidant liver support)

Lifestyle:

  • Stay well hydrated (bilirubin clearance improves with hydration)
  • If Gilbert's syndrome: fasting and dehydration worsen elevation — eat before blood draws
  • Avoid combining multiple hepatotoxic compounds (oral AAS + alcohol + NSAIDs)
  • Monitor trend: stable mild elevation = likely benign; rising trend with enzyme elevation = investigate

History Chart

Reading History

Frequently Asked Questions

Reference Ranges

Standard Range

0 - 20 umol/L

VitalMetrics Range

0 - 25 umol/L

Statistics