How Alcohol Affects Your Liver Enzymes and Triglycerides: What Your Blood Test Reveals

Your after-work drink may seem harmless, but even moderate alcohol intake can affect your liver and metabolic blood markers. The liver metabolises alcohol, and chronic or heavy drinking can elevate enzymes like ALT (GPT), AST (GOT), and Gamma-GT (GGT) — often the first signs of liver inflammation or fatty liver disease [ScienceDirect].

Frequent alcohol consumption can also increase ferritin, a marker of stored iron, as inflamed liver cells release ferritin into circulation. On top of this, alcohol’s high sugar content can spike triglycerides, especially when consumed alongside poor diet or inactivity [PubMed].

While a small glass of red wine may modestly boost HDL cholesterol, excessive or daily drinking generally does more harm than good — affecting both liver function and cardiovascular risk markers.

💡 Practical Takeaways:

• Watch Your Enzymes: Elevated ALT, AST, or GGT? It could be your alcohol intake — even 2–3 drinks daily can trigger rises.
• Limit Weekly Units: Keep below 14 units per week (UK guideline). Spread drinking days out and include several alcohol-free days.
• Mind Your Triglycerides: Alcohol raises VLDL production, driving up triglycerides and cardiovascular risk.
• Drink Smart: Eat before drinking, hydrate throughout, and avoid sugary mixers to reduce metabolic stress.
• Check Yearly: If you drink regularly, ask for annual liver function tests and lipid panels to catch problems early — most are reversible with lifestyle change.

Test for these Biomarkers:

ALT, AST, GGT, Triglycerides, Ferritin, HDL Cholesterol

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