nutrition affecting liver functions?

So my buddy and I started our health & fitness journey together last summer and began using supplements this past spring (April). Before beginning the supplement regimen we took blood tests just to see how 'healthy' we were.

Last week we got routine blood tests just to see if things have changed - mine was fine - but something was really wrong on his.

His "AST" (Alanine transaminase) were three times what they should be. The normal levels are 5 - 45 IU/L, and his came out near 150 IU/L!!

The only thing he's significantly changed since the last blood test (in which his levels were within range) has been nutritional supplements:


ON 100% Whey Gold Standard
BSN Syntha - 6 (on and off)
BSN Cellmass
NO-xplod (on and off)

he doesn't drink except a rare corona with dinner (maybe once every three weeks)... so what do you think could be the problem? He will be meeting the physician next week to discuss (the nurses just faxed him the report at home since it was the weekend), but I thought maybe I could find some answers here?

From what I've read it's an indication of a) Hepatitis or b) liver failure/cirrhosis.

any ideas?

Has he upped his water intake to accommodate for the extra stuff his body has to process? A gallon a day is a pretty good benchmark for an athlete taking supplements.

The supps you listed arent anything that would cause anything that major. Its not like he's drinking and taking methylated orals all day..

The physician should be able to tell him whats going on. IMO, there is something else going on here...

hes drinking plenty of plain bottled water each day, along with vitamin water / gatorade, etc.

The physician said that unless he's been heavily drinking bottles of wine everyday, the test result shouldn't have been so extreme, even with nutritional supplements. It may have been lab error, he's getting re-tested this Friday.


thanks for the responses

Yep there is nothing that could cose that in supplements you listed.
Although some people will notice kidney problems by taking lot's of protein but it's very rare.

Btw. No need to take No-explode and CellMass at the same time. Simular products.

Don't ever fully believe what the doctor says. Last time I got a blood test, the results showed abnormalities in my liver protein levels. My doctor put the blame on my PROTEIN POWDER(ON Whey) and dismissed me by telling me to stop taking it. I said BULL***T and got more tests done through a different doctor and it turned out that I had an illness that affected my liver. I got treated and am perfectly fine now.

Originally Posted by CroBmw

Yep there is nothing that could cose that in supplements you listed.
Although some people will notice kidney problems by taking lot's of protein but it's very rare.

Btw. No need to take No-explode and CellMass at the same time. Simular products.

mm, what are the potential kidney problems? I had never heard/read anything about that when people discuss taking Whey or really any protein supplements.

Well I also had a huge scare a bit over a month ago.. I was taking tons of my normal suppelements and protein like I have for years, eat properly, dont drink or do drugs and so on..

One day i just started having extreme anxiety and panic attacks out of nowhere, felt bloated and like I couldnt breath, I freaked out severely.. Waited 2 days then went to hospital for extreme fatigue and so on, turns out my liver enzymes were through the roof.

Well I went a few days later to a Gastrointologist, by this time I was feeling a bit better, tests were down a good amount from 4 days previously, doctor said he doubts it was from ANY supplements and just a freak virus or something..

Well needless to say, it still scares me and has me hesitant on taking supps anymore, even though im back in the gym and back on my routine, I cut out all supps which I miss ALOT, but I still feel so good.

Its just a thing that pisses me off in the back of my mind, wtf went wrong or happened? Hope your friend has better news!

Martin

If you feel good and are making progress in the gym then why bother taking supplements?

Originally Posted by 330man

If you feel good and are making progress in the gym then why bother taking supplements?

Its been a long process of progress, being the past 5-6 months the most, of crazy size gains and so on, supplements are an addiction!

Originally Posted by 330man

If you feel good and are making progress in the gym then why bother taking supplements?

because without the supplements it'd be hard to make progress at the gym.


what are the kidney problems with taking protein??

Originally Posted by 2001BMW330xi

because without the supplements it'd be hard to make progress at the gym.


what are the kidney problems with taking protein??

high protein diets are only hazardous for people with pre-existing kidney problems or disease. People who are healthy really don't have to worry about kidney problems. Dehydration is a more common side effect because it takes water to metabolize protein. One more reason to drink as much water as you can get your hands on.

oh... (whew).. I thought it might be something more serious. thanks

Originally Posted by 2001BMW330xi

because without the supplements it'd be hard to make progress at the gym.


what are the kidney problems with taking protein??

Not true with correct knowledge, training and eating. For over a year I took nothing, ate properly and trained well properly (not compared to what I know now) and I lost tons of weight and got size.. Although it takes hard work and eventually you plateau !

supplements are not a must. If anything, all a person really "needs" to waste money on is a decent whey protein powder for pwo imo. Diet, rest and training are the main factors one needs to worry about

I took isopure a few years back, and started peeing blood. Went to my general physician, and they told me I had kidney stones. Needless to say I threw out my isopure as I thought that was the culprit (probably was not drinking enough water with it).
I then went to a specialist (urologist) and they told me it was excess gas or something of the sort causing it.

What I learned: Drink lots and lots of water, especially when taking supplements.

so he got a re-test and everything was fine. The doctor realized that the nurse screwed up by giving him his Hepatitis and Tetanus immunization shots just before drawing the sample for the blood test

Originally Posted by jaewonder

Don't ever fully believe what the doctor says. Last time I got a blood test, the results showed abnormalities in my liver protein levels. My doctor put the blame on my PROTEIN POWDER(ON Whey) and dismissed me by telling me to stop taking it. I said BULL***T and got more tests done through a different doctor and it turned out that I had an illness that affected my liver. I got treated and am perfectly fine now.

lol, just goes to show you doctors get such minimal nutritional training. I hope you went back to the original doctor with the real results lol