A normal ALAT value sits below 45 U/L in adult men. In women the limit is 34 U/L. This liver enzyme sits mostly in the liver. When liver cells are damaged, the enzyme leaks into your blood and the value rises.
Sitting just above the limit? That is not a diagnosis. The context decides what the number means.
What is ALAT in the blood?
The abbreviation stands for alanine aminotransferase. Some results print it as ALT or SGPT. It is an enzyme that converts amino acids.
It sits mostly in the liver. Smaller amounts sit in muscle and kidney tissue. As long as those cells stay intact, you measure very little of it in your blood.
This liver value is reasonably liver-specific. A raised result therefore carries more weight than a raised ASAT. With ASAT, muscle is often the explanation.
What does ALAT mean on a blood test?
The lab measures how much of this enzyme circulates in your blood. A low number fits healthy liver cells. A high number means cells are leaking.
The measurement says no more than that. It is a signal, not a diagnosis.
How high can the ALAT value be?
What is a normal value? Dutch primary-care laboratories use these upper limits:
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 years | 9-35 U/L | 10-33 U/L |
| 6 to 12 years | 10-35 U/L | 9-33 U/L |
| 13 to 18 years | 9-42 U/L | 8-35 U/L |
| 19 years and older | below 45 U/L | below 34 U/L |
A low result is not a finding. That is why laboratories report only an upper limit for adults.
The upper limit differs per laboratory. The reference value on your own result always counts. And the limit is statistical, not a switch. A result of 46 U/L is not more worrying than 44 U/L.
Details are on the marker page ALAT (alanine aminotransferase).
What does a raised ALAT value mean?
A raised result means liver cells are leaking enzyme. What is causing it, the number does not say.
- Fatty liver disease. By far the most frequent cause of a mildly raised result. Usually without symptoms.
- Excessive alcohol use. Even an intensive weekend can lift your values.
- Medication and supplements. From paracetamol and statins to oral compounds.
- Viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis B. Less common, but the reason a strongly raised result deserves follow-up.
- Heavy training. The most-missed explanation among athletes.
How far the value is raised matters more than the fact that it is raised. A result of 50 in a man is different from 400. Raised values are also very common. More causes are covered in elevated liver values.
ALAT, ASAT, gamma GT and alkaline phosphatase
These four almost always appear together on your result. They do not measure the same thing.
| Marker | Where it comes from | What a rise suggests |
|---|---|---|
| ALAT (ALT) | Mostly the liver | A targeted signal about your liver cells |
| ASAT (AST) | Liver, but also muscle and heart | Can be muscle strain, especially after training |
| Gamma GT | Bile ducts | Sensitive to alcohol and bile duct problems |
| Alkaline phosphatase | Bile ducts and bone | Points towards bile ducts or bone turnover |
Does only your ASAT stand out while the rest stays calm? Then the source probably lies outside your liver.
Why training can distort your result
Heavy strength training damages muscle fibres slightly. That mostly releases ASAT. After a genuinely hard session this enzyme rises too, because muscle tissue contains it as well.
A useful check is your CK value. That comes almost entirely from muscle. The pattern is explained in recognising overtraining through your blood values.
Practical advice: do not draw blood within two to three days of a heavy session. Oral compounds do burden the liver directly. More on that in liver values and compounds in athletes.
How do I lower my ALAT?
There is no product that lowers this value. What works is removing the cause.
- Lose weight if you are overweight. A few per cent of weight loss already helps measurably.
- Drink less alcohol, or none for a while. Four weeks without is a test in itself.
- Review your medication with your GP. Stop nothing on your own.
- Repeat the measurement after six to twelve weeks. Liver enzymes respond slowly.
Look at the trend above all. One isolated number says little.
What counts as dangerous liver values?
Up to roughly twice the upper limit is where most people fall. Annoying, but rarely acute.
Above three times the upper limit you want to establish the cause. Ten times or higher fits acute liver damage. That category comes with symptoms: jaundice, dark urine, severe nausea or pain in the upper right of your abdomen.
If you develop those symptoms, do not wait for a repeat measurement.
What to do about a raised ALAT
Is your value too high? Start with the circumstances. Had you trained hard or drunk alcohol just before the draw? Then a repeat measurement is the logical step.
Still raised after that? Discuss it with your GP, who may suggest further investigation such as a liver ultrasound or blood tests for hepatitis B. That makes the cause easier to establish.
Want the liver enzymes drawn together? They are in the 360 Health panel.
Sources
- Star-shl bepalingenwijzer. ALAT (SGPT). Accessed 2026.
- Thuisarts.nl. The liver tests in my blood are not good. Accessed 2026.
- NVKC. Reference values clinical chemistry, paediatric bands. Accessed 2026.
Disclaimer
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. This article gives general information. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Discuss your results with your GP before making treatment decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal ALAT value?
Below 45 U/L in adult men. Below 34 U/L in women. Children have their own upper limits per age group. Laboratories report only an upper limit for adults, because a low result is not a finding.
Is a value of 50 bad?
In a man that is mildly raised. It is a reason to repeat the measurement after a few quiet weeks, not a reason to be alarmed. How far the value is raised matters more than the fact that it is raised.
What does ALAT mean on a blood test?
It is an enzyme that sits mostly in the liver. The lab measures how much of it circulates in your blood. When liver cells are damaged it leaks out and the result rises. It is therefore a measure of the state of your liver cells.
Why does the upper limit differ from the one on my own result?
Because laboratories use different measurement methods and set their limits accordingly. The reference value on your own result is the one that counts. Use the numbers on this page as a guide, not as a replacement for it.
How long after training is my result normal again?
That differs per person and per session, often a few days. Do not draw blood within two to three days of a heavy session. A repeat measurement after rest gives a more reliable picture of your liver values.
Author
Enhanced Health
Dr. Naimi, BIG-registered physician, oversees the medical standards behind our content and assessments. Read our medical policy
