The liver is a very useful organ that’s impossible to do without. A liver function test helps you determine liver damage and disease. The liver helps support metabolism, digestion, immunity, vitamin storage, detoxification, and other functions. Your liver comprises about 2% of your body weight as an adult.
A liver function test determines your liver’s health by measuring various proteins, enzymes, and bilirubin levels in the blood. Depending on the type of test you’re taking, a higher or lower level of a certain substance in your liver will determine your health. Also, such tests help monitor the progress of certain illnesses.
Uses of a live function test
There are many uses for a liver function test. It can help you:
- Check for liver infection or damage that stems from hepatitis B C, especially if you may have been exposed to the virus. The liver function test also helps check for these viruses.
- Check for liver health, especially if you drink frequently.
- If you’ve been diagnosed with liver disease, it can help you monitor the disease and how well the treatment is working.
- If you are experiencing symptoms that point to life problems or you come from a family history of fatty liver disease, frequently taking a liver function test is necessary.
- It can help you monitor the effects of certain medications on the liver, such as statins, NSAIDs, antibiotics, antiseizure, and tuberculosis drugs.
- Ceratina medical conditions can damage the liver, such as high blood pressure, high triglycerides, anaemia, and diabetes. Constantly monitoring your liver condition when you have these conditions is necessary.
- If you have gallbladder disease, you’ll also need a liver function test.
Symptoms of liver disease or damage
Besides the above reasons for a liver function test, you also may need to take a test if you have the following symptoms as they indicate liver damage. These are:
- Lack of appetite
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen
- Swelling of ankles and legs
- Dark-coloured urine or light-coloured poop
- Frequent itching
- Jaundice
Besides that, you may also need to get tested if you’re at a high risk of liver disease or damage. Your risk of liver damage may be high due to:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Diabetes
- A family history of liver disease
- Obesity
- Ingestions of medications that could cause liver damage
- Hepatitis or exposure to it
What does the liver function test measure?
Liver function tests measure various proteins and enzymes in your blood. When you have atypical results on your test, you may need a follow-up to determine what the previous result meant. Common items tested in liver function tests include:
- pH: This assesses the acidity or alkalinity of urine.
- Protein: Elevated levels in a urine sample may indicate kidney disease.
- Specific Gravity (S.G.): Higher specific gravity might signal a UTI, diabetes, or dehydration, possibly linked to kidney or heart failure.
- Nitrites: Bacteria causing UTIs convert nitrates into nitrites. A positive result for nitrites could indicate a UTI.
- Leukocytes: These white blood cells are produced by the body to combat infection; their presence could signal a UTI or kidney infection.
- Urobilinogen: Typically, small levels of this by-product from the breakdown of Bilirubin are normal. Higher levels might point to liver disease.
- Bilirubin: Usually absent in urine, its presence could indicate liver disease.
- Blood: A serious UTI/Cystitis can cause blood in urine, possibly indicating kidney stones, bladder/kidney cancer, or other issues.
- Glucose: Normally not found in urine due to kidney processing; its presence could suggest undiagnosed diabetes.
- Ketone: Produced when the body can’t extract energy from glucose; higher levels might be due to dieting, prolonged fasting, or something more severe like diabetes.
How to maintain or improve your liver health
There are many ways you can help your liver from undergoing damage. These include;
Monitor your alcohol consumption.
Liver cirrhosis isn’t only for the “falling-down drunks” but for everyone. Just 2 ounces of hard liquor per day for women and four ounces per day for men can cause liver damage. It’s especially necessary to cut back on alcohol if you have alcohol-related liver disease. Women should especially be careful because a small amount of alcohol can cause them similar damage.
If you’re overweight, lose weight.
Illnesses like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are closely connected to obesity. Therefore, losing weight would be a preventative measure. You don’t have to be skinny to avoid becoming ill. However, losing about 7 to 10% of your starting weight will significantly reduce your liver fat content, scarring and inflammation.
Find professional help when starting to lose weight because even though fad diets can help you lose weight easily, they will also cause you to regain the lost weight in less than a year, which is good for your general health. Find a steady weight loss plan.
Don’t consume unnecessary supplements.
Even though herbal and dietary supplements are good for your general health, be cautious of their effects on your liver. For example, milk thistle can cause anti-inflammation in the liver, while ashwangadha can cause liver toxicity. Therefore, you must ensure that your doctor recommends the types of supplements you consume and the quantity you consume.
Indulge in a healthy diet.
Items like red and processed meat should be less in your diet. However, ensure you fill your diet with many rainbow-coloured fruits and vegetables. These add polyphenols to your diet, which are good for your liver health. To know that your diet is liver-friendly, it should be low in fats and smaller portions.
A diet that lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease is also the best for your liver health. So, check in with your doctor or dietitian to find the best diet.
Limit added sugars
While reducing sugar in your diet will prevent you from gaining too much weight, that’s not all. Limiting foods with added sugars like fructose can prevent you from advancing liver disease. Fructose often induces the body to form and store more fat, so reduce the added sugars in your diet if you can.
Get active
Even if your exercise doesn’t result in weight loss, it helps with liver health. According to studies, exercise can reduce your risk of liver disease. So, you can start going for walks, swimming, or whatever form of exercise you find easy to perform consistently.
Wash produce
Most of our produce contains pesticides and other toxins that can damage your liver. Before cooking or eating fresh vegetables and fruits, clean them thoroughly. Also, it would help if you read warning labels on the chemicals you use.
Prevent hepatitis A, B, and C.
There are many preventative measures you can use to keep away hepatitis. You can do it by getting vaccinated. Hepatitis A and B are viral liver diseases. Children can get immunized for it, and so can adults. Ask your doctor if you’re at risk of this and whether you need a vaccination.
Practising safe sex can also prevent you from getting hepatitis B and C, which can develop into chronic conditions which may eventually destroy your liver. Usually, these types of hepatitis are transmitted by bodily fluids and blood.
Clean your hands often because hepatitis A is transmitted through contact with contaminated water and food. Cleanliness will keep you from the risk of this hepatitis.
Final thoughts
Liver health is important. A Liver Function Test helps you monitor your liver’s health to ensure it’s always in good condition. However, if something’s wrong, you’ll know in advance and work with your doctor to mitigate it.
