Good liver function (GGT)
- GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase) is an enzyme that reflects the detoxification function of the liver.The health status of liver function and bile duct system can be evaluated through blood tests.
- Type A mutation in DNA region rs1013338Study finds that people with 200% tend to have a higher risk of decreased liver function.
- By regularly checking GGT numbers,Hepatitis/cirrhosis/liver cancerEarly detection and prevention of
Overview Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) is an enzyme involved in liver detoxification, and is also present in the kidney, pancreas, and intestine. This test item not only allows you to evaluate liver function, but also to predict the presence or absence of diseases such as bile ducts and gallbladder. Excessive alcohol intake and bile duct obstruction are factors that cause an increase in GGT values. An elevated GGT value suggests that you are suffering from a liver disease such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. On the other hand, normal GGT values indicate a healthy liver. Although it is important to consider not only GGT but also other test results, checking GGT values through blood tests is an important means to detect changes in liver function. As the disease progresses, life-threatening complications such as liver failure can occur, so it is important to detect liver and bile duct diseases early by testing GGT values. Research by Young Jin Kim and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health revealed that measurements of liver function are associated with a DNA region called rs1013338. There are three genotypes in this DNA region: CC, CA, and AA, and it was found that people with the A genotype tend to have a higher risk of decreased liver function.
What is GGT (γ-GTP)?
GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase) is an enzyme involved in liver detoxification and is a typical blood test indicator for evaluating liver function.Although it is also present in the kidneys, pancreas, and intestines, elevated blood GGT levels mainly indicate abnormalities in the liver and bile duct system.
What causes high GGT values?
The main factors that increase GGT numbers are:
- Excessive intake of alcohol:GGT values tend to increase in proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed
- Bile duct obstruction:Condition in which bile flow is obstructed by gallstones or tumors
- Liver disease:Liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer
- Drug-induced liver damage:When certain drugs put a strain on the liver
- Fatty liver:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
GGT standard values and judgment criteria
The standard value of GGT differs depending on gender.
| Judgment | Male (IU/L) | Female (IU/L) |
|---|---|---|
| normal value | 50 or less | 30 or less |
| Be careful | 51〜100 | 31〜50 |
| abnormal value | 101 or more | 51 and above |
Difference between GGT and AST/ALT
Multiple enzyme indicators are used to evaluate liver function.
| Comparison items | GGT（γ-GTP） | AST（GOT） | ALT（GPT） |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main location | liver, kidney, pancreas | liver/heart/muscles | liver (specific) |
| Relationship with drinking | expensive | medium | low |
| biliary tract disease | reflected sharply | Slight increase | Slight increase |
| hepatocellular damage | rise | markedly increased | markedly increased |
Why checking GGT numbers is important
Regular measurement of GGT values is important for the following reasons:
- Early detection:Can detect early stages of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer
- Detection of bile duct disease:Serves as an indicator of cholelithiasis and bile duct cancer
- Evaluation of alcoholic liver damage:It is possible to quantitatively evaluate damage to the liver caused by drinking alcohol.
- Judgment of treatment effect:You can check the decline in GGT levels over time after alcohol withdrawal or drug therapy.
A normal GGT value indicates a healthy liver. As the disease progressesliver failureEarly detection is important as it can lead to life-threatening complications.
Relationship between genes and liver function (GGT)
Relationship between DNA region rs1013338 and liver function risk
Research by Young Jin Kim and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health (1) revealed that the DNA region rs1013338 is associated with liver function (GGT value).
- There are three genotypes of rs1013338: CC, CA, and AA.
- Genotype with type A mutationPeople with these conditions tend to have a higher risk of liver function deterioration.
Genotype distribution in Japanese (rs1013338)
| Genotype | Percentage of Japanese people | percentage of the world |
|---|---|---|
| CC type | 19.9％ | 43.8％ |
| CA type | 49.4％ | 44.7％ |
| AA type | 30.5％ | 11.3％ |
Rationale for testing
Surface DNA region: Good liver function (GGT)
The gene region that most strongly influences good liver function (GGT) is rs1013338. The distribution of isomorphic genotypes in Japan is as follows.
- CC
19.9 % - CA
49.4 % - AA
30.5 %
Basis for inspection
Research by Young Jin Kim and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health revealed that liver function measurements are linked to genes. There is a region called rs1013338 in the human genome, and there are two types of mutations, C and A, in the gene in that region. It was found that people with type C mutations tend to have a higher risk of decreased liver function.
The DNA region investigated this time
Schematic diagram of DNA map present in cells
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Related genes
| Related genes | FAM227A |
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is GGT (γ-GTP)?
GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase) is an enzyme involved in liver detoxification.It is also present in the kidneys, pancreas, and intestines, and can be measured in blood tests to evaluate the health status of liver function and bile ducts. Elevated GGT values indicate liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer (1).
Q2. What is the cause of the high GGT value?
The main cause of GGT increase isHeavy alcohol intake, bile duct obstruction, hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancerIt is. Drug-induced liver damage and fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are also factors that increase GGT. There is a proportional relationship between alcohol consumption and GGT levels, which tend to decrease after 2 to 4 weeks of abstinence (1).
Q3. What is the standard value for GGT?
The standard value of GGT is50 IU/L or less for men, 30 IU/L or less for womenis a general guideline. If the value exceeds the standard value, an abnormality in the liver or bile duct system is suspected, and detailed examination in conjunction with other liver function markers such as AST and ALT is recommended.
Q4. Can genetic testing determine the risks associated with GGT?
By examining the genotype of DNA region rs1013338,Understand genetic trends that affect GGT valuesYou can. Studies have shown that people with the genotype A tend to have a higher risk of poor liver function (1).
References
- Reference link 1: 2022 Nov., Young Jin Kim, Nat Commun