Home › Lab markers › ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL (CMP)
Also printed as: SGPT · ALT · Alanine transaminase
Educational only — not medical advice.
ALT is an enzyme found mostly inside liver cells. When those cells are irritated or turning over, a little more of it leaks into the blood. Because it is fairly liver-specific, it is one of the first numbers clinicians look at when checking liver health.
ALT is a sensitive but non-specific signal — it says "the liver noticed something," not what. Its pattern with AST, ALP, and bilirubin, plus the trend across draws, is what turns it into useful information.
TYPICAL ADULT RANGE
Many labs report roughly 7–55 U/L for adults, with lower upper limits for women at some labs. Ranges vary by lab. Reported in U/L.
Reference ranges vary by lab, by method, and by age and sex. Always read your own result against the range printed on your report.
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Low ALT is almost never flagged as a concern and most reports treat it as unremarkable. It can accompany lower vitamin B6 levels or simply reflect where you sit naturally. There is no action to take from a low ALT on its own; it is not something to worry about.
Mildly elevated ALT is one of the most common findings on a routine panel, and the everyday explanations are long: a hard workout in the days before the draw, alcohol in the past week, a heavy or fatty meal, being unwell recently, extra body weight, and a long list of ordinary medications and supplements — including some over-the-counter pain relievers and herbal products. Fatty changes in the liver are also common and often reversible. Because so much moves this number, doctors typically repeat it after a couple of quiet weeks before reading anything into it. A persistent elevation is a normal reason to look further, and your doctor is the right person to decide what "further" looks like.
Your doctor is the one who can read this number against your history, symptoms, and medications.
Educational only — not medical advice. Lab results only mean something alongside your history, symptoms, medications, and the rest of your panel. Bring questions to your doctor; they are the one who can interpret your results for you.
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