Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase
Track GGT levels for liver function and alcohol metabolism assessment. Monitor hepatic enzyme activity for health optimization.
What is Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase?
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) is an enzyme found primarily in liver and bile duct cells, with smaller amounts in kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. GGT plays a role in amino acid transport and is particularly sensitive to bile duct problems and certain types of liver damage. It’s one of the most sensitive markers for detecting liver and bile duct disorders.
Why is it Tested?
GGT is measured to evaluate liver and bile duct function, particularly when other liver enzymes are elevated or when alcohol-related liver damage is suspected. It’s especially useful because it’s highly sensitive to bile duct obstruction and can help distinguish liver problems from other causes of elevated alkaline phosphatase. GGT is also a sensitive marker for alcohol use.
Normal Ranges
Reference ranges vary by gender:
- Women: 5–36 U/L
- Men: 8–61 U/L
The difference reflects normal physiological variations between men and women.
Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.
What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.
Low GGT
Low GGT levels are generally not concerning and rarely indicate any medical problems. Very low levels are typically considered normal variants.
High GGT
Elevated GGT can indicate various liver and bile duct problems:
- Alcohol-related liver damage (even moderate drinking)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Bile duct obstruction
- Drug-induced liver injury
- Chronic hepatitis
- Liver cancer or metastases
- Heart failure affecting liver
- Certain medications
How to Track Over Time
Monitoring GGT trends is particularly valuable for assessing alcohol use impact on liver health and tracking recovery from liver damage. GGT typically rises earlier and falls more quickly than other liver enzymes, making it useful for detecting recent liver stress and monitoring improvement with lifestyle changes or treatment.
Track your Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase results over time
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