Home › Lab markers › AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL (CMP)
Also printed as: SGOT · AST · Aspartate transaminase
Educational only — not medical advice.
AST is an enzyme found in the liver but also in muscle, heart, and red blood cells. That wider distribution means a raised AST is not automatically a liver story. It is almost always interpreted next to ALT.
The AST-to-ALT relationship is the informative part. When AST rises well above ALT, muscle is often the source; when they move together, the liver usually is. Either way it is a starting point for a conversation, not a conclusion.
TYPICAL ADULT RANGE
Many labs report roughly 8–48 U/L for adults. 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 AST is not generally considered clinically meaningful and rarely prompts follow-up on its own. Most people with a low value have nothing to act on. If it is flagged, the practical question is whether the rest of the liver group looks ordinary.
The most common reason for a raised AST in an otherwise healthy person is muscle, not liver — intense exercise, especially heavy lifting or a long run in the days before the draw, reliably pushes it up. Recent alcohol, a viral illness, some medications and supplements, and a sample where red cells broke during collection can all raise it too. When the liver is the source, ALT usually moves alongside it. Doctors commonly recheck an isolated high AST after a week of rest before interpreting it.
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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