It is often difficult to understand which lab values mean what. We give you an overview in the series "What do my lab values mean?

GGT (γGT, GammaGT, Gamma Glytamyl Transferase)

The enzyme gamma glytamyl transferase is one of the most important active substances of the liver and can be measured in the blood (serum). Gamma GT (GGT) is produced in increased amounts in certain diseases of the liver and bile ducts. Normal levels of gamma GT are an important indicator of normal liver and bile duct function.

Normal values of GGT

Normal levels of gamma GT are 15-55 U/l (units per litre) in men and 10-40 U/l in women. Decreased values are insignificant, increased values indicate that the liver is overloaded by toxins produced by the body or ingested with food or drink.

Elevated levels of GGT

Elevated levels of GGT are very often measured in blood tests. A large part of the upward deviations are due to alcohol consumption. Alcohol has to be detoxified by the liver, and in the process more gamma GT is formed. Most of the people for whom alcohol is the cause of the increase in GGT have consumed too much alcohol. The amount of alcohol that leads to alcohol-related liver damage can vary. Some react to very small amounts, others tolerate more. There are surprisingly often patients with elevated GGT who credibly affirm that they consume no or only very little alcohol. Especially in people who eat a lot of raw food, alcoholic fermentation can occur in the intestine, producing so much alcohol that the liver is overloaded and produces more GGT. The second most common cause of increased GGT is an obstruction in the flow of bile. This can be caused by inflammation of the bile ducts or by the deposition of gallstones in the gallbladder. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) also often causes an increase in gamma GT. This disease affects about 1/3 of the adult population.

Subjective complaints

"Fatigue is the pain of the liver" is a saying in European naturopathy. Leaden fatigue during the day and very frequent sleep interruptions between 2 and 4 a.m. are typical subjective complaints of liver diseases. Due to the overload of toxins and bile, the liver can no longer fulfil its tasks adequately. These include the provision of important vital substances for the body, which the liver assembles and stores from food.

Therapy

In Ayurveda as well as in modern medicine, attempts are made to find out the cause of the increase in gamma GT and to eliminate it. Alcohol consumption: Whenever there is an increase in gamma GT, alcohol should be strictly avoided. If this is successful, the GGT values can often completely normalise within a few weeks. If alcohol dependence or addiction is present, a professionally guided withdrawal is necessary to cure this serious disease. The first step must always come from the patient: Only those who are willing to change from the ground up can shake off this addiction. Ayurvedic measures such as bitter medicinal herbs, herbal food supplements and cleansing cures can significantly accelerate the normalisation of liver function. Fermentation dyspepsia: When alcohol is produced by strong fermentation processes in the intestine, a change in diet is unavoidable. This involves overcoming years of habits and supposedly health-promoting concepts such as eating raw fruit and vegetables. At the same time, the digestive organs need to be supported through anti-fermentation spices, new eating habits and probiotic intestinal germs. Bile stasis: Backlogs of bile can be caused by the formation of gallstones or by inflammation of the bile ducts. Nowadays, gallstones can be gently removed by modern surgical procedures. The therapy for "cholangitis", as the inflammation of the bile ducts is called in technical terms, is more difficult. This disease can be caused by a malfunction in the immune system. This auto-immune disease requires intensive medical care. Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) : This widespread disease, from which about 1/3 of the adult population suffer, mostly undetected, has increased massively in recent years. It is mainly caused by too frequent meals and too much sugar consumption in the form of soft drinks, fruit juices, pastries, sweets and fruit. The diagnosis of this disease is usually an incidental finding during screening examinations and explains the fatigue these people suffer from. The therapy consists of Ayurvedic medicinal herbs, abstinence from sugar and alcohol and abstention from snacks. Ayurvedic cleansing cures such as our "Herbal Detox", which is offered as an at-home cure package and as a webinar have a particularly rapid effect.

Summary

An increase in GGT (Gamma GT, Gamma Glytamyl Transferase) is a very common laboratory finding. The cause is always a toxin load in the liver. These toxins can be supplied externally (alcohol) or produced in the body (fermentation alcohols and bile juices). The liver is an organ that can regenerate very quickly after years of stress with an increase in gamma GT. If this stress is recognised, healing is possible through changes in lifestyle and diet, medicinal herbs and Ayurvedic cleansing cures. If this path is not taken, irreversible destruction of the liver cells will occur with shrinkage and hardening of the liver. This practically incurable clinical picture is called cirrhosis of the liver and sooner or later leads to death.