What are the effects of excessively high transaminase levels?
Apr 27, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
Elevated transaminase levels can have multiple effects on the body, including impaired liver function, reduced hepatic metabolic capacity, increased risk of cardiac damage, coagulation disorders, and decreased immune function. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and reduced intake of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods, to help preserve normal liver metabolic function.
Generally, the effects of excessively high transaminase levels on the body are multifaceted, including impaired liver function, decreased hepatic metabolic function, increased risk of cardiac damage, coagulation dysfunction, and reduced immune function. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Impaired Liver Function
Transaminases are primarily found within liver cells. When liver cells are damaged, these enzymes are released into the bloodstream, causing elevated serum transaminase levels. Impaired liver function not only indicates a decline in the liver's detoxification and metabolic capacity but may also lead to the development and progression of liver diseases.
2. Decreased Hepatic Metabolic Function
The liver is a vital metabolic organ involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and other nutrients. Elevated transaminase levels indicate impaired liver metabolic function, which may prevent nutrients from being properly metabolized, thereby affecting overall health, such as causing malnutrition or impaired drug metabolism.
3. Increased Risk of Cardiac Damage
Transaminases are also present in myocardial cells. When myocardial cells are damaged, transaminases may be released into the bloodstream. This may manifest as symptoms of myocardial injury, such as chest tightness and chest pain, and may also indicate the presence of certain heart diseases, such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.
4. Coagulation Dysfunction
The liver is involved in the synthesis and storage of clotting factors. Elevated transaminase levels may lead to reduced production of clotting factors, increasing the risk of bleeding, such as gum bleeding or nosebleeds. In severe cases, life-threatening bleeding events may occur.
5. Reduced Immune Function
The liver is one of the body's important immune organs, possessing immune regulatory and defensive functions. Elevated transaminase levels may indicate impaired liver immune function, which typically results in decreased immunity, making the body more susceptible to infections such as colds and pneumonia.
In daily life, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, reducing intake of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods, and increasing the proportion of foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, to help maintain normal liver metabolic function.
