Normal GGT levels suggest no liver damage.
 

Elevated GGT levels may indicate liver damage, bile duct obstruction, excessive alcohol consumption or other health conditions. Your healthcare provider can interpret your results in context with other factors. You should consult with your healthcare provider with any abnormal results.
 

Note: A GGT test alone cannot diagnose the cause of liver disease or other health conditions. GGT levels are often evaluated in the context of other liver function tests

Common symptoms of liver problems may include:
 

• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes)
• Dark urine
• Pale stools
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Bruising easily

High GGT levels in a blood test could indicate:
 

• Liver damage or liver disease: GGT is an enzyme primarily found in the liver, and elevated levels indicate that you may have liver damage or may have a condition that is damaging your liver. However, GGT levels alone cannot identify the specific cause of the damage
• Cholestasis (bile duct obstruction): High GGT levels may suggest blocked bile ducts
• Alcohol liver disease: Regular or excessive alcohol intake can cause GGT levels to rise
• Certain medications: Some drugs can increase or affect GGT levels, such as anti-seizure meds (phenobarbital, phenytoin), anticoagulants (heparin, warfarin) and immunosuppressive medications. If you are taking phenobarbital or phenytoin, there could be a false elevation of GGT level
• Pancreatic disease: In some cases, high GGT levels may be associated with a pancreatic condition
   

It's important to note that a high GGT result alone is not enough to diagnose a specific condition. Your healthcare provider will consider other factors and may recommend additional tests to determine the cause.

If you have elevated GGT levels, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider for proper evaluation and guidance. Your healthcare provider may suggest healthy lifestyle habits such as:
 

• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Managing a healthy weight

Certain medications: Some drugs can increase or affect GGT levels, such as anti-seizure meds (phenobarbital, phenytoin), anticoagulants (heparin, warfarin) and immunosuppressive medications. If you are taking phenobarbital or phenytoin, there could be a false elevation of GGT levels.
 

Inform your healthcare provider about all the medications you're taking when interpreting test results.

Alcohol consumption can cause elevated levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the blood. Alcohol is known to have a significant impact on liver function, and regular or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to increased GGT level.
 

Other conditions such as liver diseases, certain medications, and some non-liver-related issues can also affect GGT levels. If you have concerns about your GGT levels or alcohol consumption, it's best to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance.

Increased GGT levels may be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), suggesting possible liver damage. NAFLD occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver, even in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. This fat accumulation can lead to liver inflammation, liver scarring and damage within the liver cells.
 

Elevated GGT levels are not specific to NAFLD and can be caused by other conditions. Other liver enzymes, such as ALT and AST, are also commonly elevated in people with NAFLD.  Providers look at clinical history, physical examination, imaging and other liver health blood tests to diagnose NAFLD.
 

*Like many diseases, the names and descriptions used can change over time. It should be noted that the terminology for NASH and NAFLD are in the process of being updated to better reflect the underlying cause of the disease. You may see or hear metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) being used by your healthcare provider.

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