A QUEST FOR NORMAL VALUES OF SERUM AMINOTRANSFERASE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH AGE AND BODY MASS INDEX

Serum Aminotransferase-with Age and Body Mass Index

Abstract

Objective: To determine the reference range for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels for young healthy individuals in our population and to find out effects of age and body mass index on alanine aminotransferase.
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Military Hospital Rawalpindi; from Dec 2009 to April 2010.
Material and Methods: Five hundred and fifty three young healthy adults were included in the study. Detailed history was taken. Parameters like Age, height and weight were measured. Relevant investigations were carried out for each subject which included blood complete picture, Chest X-Ray, ECG, Urine routine examination, liver function tests, serum urea, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, plasma glucose (F), Anti HCV antibodies, HBsAg, HIV antibodies and VDRL. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.
Results: Age of subjects ranged from 19 to 50 years (29 ± 6) years, BMI 15.59 to 29.8, (21.58 ± 2). Serum alanine aminotransferase ranged from 17 to 81 IU/l, (29.9 ± 8) IU/l. Serum alanine aminotransferase for subjects with body mass index more than 25 Kg/m2 was 29.6 ± 7 IU/L. There is no significant difference in value of mean ALT overall and in those with BMI of more than 25 (p=0.149)
Conclusion: Mean serum alanine aminotransferase value in young healthy adults included in this study was 29.9 ± 8 IU/L which is lower than normal reference provided at present which is 40 IU/l. Statistical analysis revelaed that serum ALT is not significantly influenced by age and BMI.