SGPT, also known as ALT or alanine aminotransferase, is an enzyme found mainly in the liver. High SGPT levels indicate liver damage or injury. While there are many potential causes, including medications and chronic liver disease, diet is one factor that can contribute to elevated SGPT levels. Certain foods and eating patterns should be limited or avoided to help reduce SGPT levels.
What is SGPT?
SGPT, or serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, is one of the enzymes that helps metabolize proteins in the liver. When the liver is damaged, SGPT leaks into the bloodstream, raising the levels detected on a blood test. Normal SGPT levels are generally between 7 to 56 units per liter, though the optimal range may vary slightly between laboratories. Consistently elevated SGPT levels over 100 U/L indicate liver inflammation and possible injury that warrants further evaluation.
Causes of High SGPT
Some of the main causes of high SGPT levels include:
- Fatty liver disease – Excess fat accumulation in liver cells can cause inflammation.
- Alcohol abuse – Drinking too much alcohol can damage liver cells.
- Viral hepatitis – Hepatitis A, B, and C infections can inflame the liver.
- Medications – Certain prescription drugs like statins and acetaminophen can raise SGPT.
- Autoimmune disorders – Conditions like celiac disease may affect the liver.
- Hemochromatosis – Iron overload can deposit in and injure the liver.
Diet and nutrition can play a significant role in many of these underlying causes of elevated SGPT levels. Making smart food choices is key to maintaining liver health.
Foods That Can Cause High SGPT
The following foods have been associated with contributing to high SGPT levels:
1. Fried and Processed Foods
Fried foods like french fries, fried chicken, and potato chips as well as heavily processed snack foods tend to be high in fat and calories. Overconsumption places stress on the liver, which has to work hard to metabolize this type of food. The excess fat can accumulate in liver cells, leading to fatty liver disease.
2. Sugary Foods and Beverages
Excess sugar intake from sweets, baked goods, candy, soda, and juices provides lots of empty calories. This added sugar gets converted to fat in the liver. Over time, it can lead to fatty liver, liver inflammation, and elevated SGPT.
3. Full-Fat Dairy
Whole milk, full-fat cheese, cream, butter, and ice cream are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. While small amounts are fine, overdoing dairy fat can overload the liver. Low-fat or nonfat dairy options are better alternatives.
4. Red Meat
While lean cuts are fine in moderation, consuming too much high-fat red meat like pork sausages, bacon, ribs, and hot dogs adds saturated fat and cholesterol that taxes liver function. This can contribute to fatty liver disease.
5. Refined Carbs
Foods made with white flour and added sugars including breads, pasta, cereal, crackers, baked goods stress the liver. They are quickly broken down into blood sugar. Excess glucose gets converted to fat, which gets stored in the liver.
| Food | Reason for Concern |
|---|---|
| Fried foods | High in fat which leads to fatty liver |
| Sugary foods and beverages | Excess sugar converted to fat in liver |
| Full-fat dairy | High in saturated fat, overloads liver |
| Red meat | Saturated fat stresses liver function |
| Refined carbs | Quickly converted to liver fat |
Dietary Recommendations for Lower SGPT
Making some simple changes to your diet can go a long way towards bringing SGPT levels back into a healthy range. Try these dietary strategies:
1. Increase Healthy Fats
Focus on getting more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. These provide essential fats to keep the liver functioning optimally without overloading it.
2. Choose Lean Proteins
Swap out fatty red meats for leaner proteins like skinless poultry, eggs, beans, legumes, tofu and fish. These give you the amino acids your body needs without straining the liver.
3. Load Up On Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies provide important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support liver health. They also have fiber that promotes satiety and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
4. Avoid Added Sugars
Cut back on any foods with added sugars including soda, candy, baked goods, and processed snacks. Limit even natural sugars from honey, maple syrup, and tropical fruits.
5. Choose Whole Grains
Trade refined grains like white bread and rice for whole grain options like oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, and 100% whole wheat bread. The fiber helps slow sugar absorption and prevent liver fat accumulation.
6. Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water, herbal tea, seltzer or water infused with fruit. Good hydration supports liver function and health.
| Dietary Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Increase healthy fats | Provides essential fats without overloading liver |
| Choose lean proteins | Gives amino acids without straining liver |
| Load up on fruits and veggies | Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants support liver |
| Avoid added sugars | Prevents fat accumulation in liver |
| Choose whole grains | Fiber helps regulate blood sugar and liver fat |
| Stay hydrated | Supports healthy liver function |
Foods to Help Lower SGPT
Incorporating more of these foods into your diet can help improve liver health and lower high SGPT levels:
- Nuts like walnuts, almonds and pecans
- Olive oil and avocado oil
- Fatty fish like salmon and sardines
- Garlic, turmeric, ginger and green tea
- Leafy greens like spinach, kale and arugula
- Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts
- Beans and legumes
- Fresh fruits like berries, citrus, apples and pears
- Oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice and 100% whole grains
These provide healthy fats, antioxidants, fiber and nutrients that support liver function without taxing this vital organ.
Lifestyle Changes that Help Lower SGPT
Diet is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to reducing high SGPT levels. Making the following additional lifestyle changes can also have an important impact:
- Lose excess weight – Carrying extra pounds stresses the liver.
- Exercise more – Physical activity helps regulate blood sugar and burn body fat.
- Limit alcohol – Avoid drinking in excess to prevent liver damage.
- Manage medications – Discuss alternatives if any prescribed medications could be straining your liver.
- Reduce stress – Chronic stress takes a toll on the liver. Practice relaxation techniques.
- Get screened for hepatitis – If hepatitis is the underlying cause, proper treatment can help resolve high SGPT.
Making a few simple diet and lifestyle modifications goes a long way towards supporting liver function and bringing SGPT back into the normal range. But persistent high levels should prompt further evaluation and care from your healthcare provider.
When to Seek Medical Care for Elevated SGPT Levels
While adjusting your diet and lifestyle habits may help reduce mildly elevated SGPT levels, it’s important to be evaluated by a doctor if you have:
- SGPT consistently over 100 U/L
- Rapid weight loss and loss of appetite
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Abdominal swelling or fluid retention
- Fatigue, nausea, itching skin or confusion
These symptoms could reflect a more serious underlying liver condition in need of proper diagnosis and medical treatment. Left untreated, very high SGPT levels can progress to permanent liver damage and liver failure.
Diagnosing the Cause of High SGPT
If you have persistently elevated SGPT levels along with any concerning symptoms, your doctor will run tests to determine the cause. Diagnostic evaluations may include:
- Additional liver function blood tests
- Blood count to check for anemia
- Hepatitis virus blood tests
- Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT or MRI scan of liver
- Liver biopsy to examine liver tissue under the microscope
These tests along with your full medical history, family history, medication use and lifestyle habits will help your doctor pinpoint the reason behind high SGPT. Some common diagnoses could include:
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Viral hepatitis infection
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Hemochromatosis (iron overload disorder)
- Liver cancer
- Cirrhosis (advanced liver scarring)
Proper treatment of the underlying liver condition is crucial. Medications, dietary changes, supplements, or sometimes surgery may be recommended. For severe liver damage, a transplant could be required.
Conclusion
Diet and nutrition play a big role in SGPT levels. Limiting fried foods, added sugars, full-fat dairy, fatty meats and refined carbs can prevent fat accumulation and inflammation that damages the liver. Choosing more healthy fats, lean proteins, fiber-rich produce and whole grains supports liver health. But consistently elevated SGPT levels warrant medical care to determine and treat the cause appropriately. With proper management, the liver has an incredible ability to heal and regenerate itself. Committing to a liver-friendly lifestyle and following your doctor’s recommendations can help restore normal SGPT levels and maintain proper liver function.