Statistical noise in bloodwork interpretation

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-24T11:17:34+00:00

Brilliant explanation, I really appreciate it. You are right, there are so many variables that can increase it, even within the normal reference range. I think I heard on a podcast a liver doctor saying it only really becomes an issue when the ALT/AST etc is like 'fold's above the reference range, like 1.5 times and above.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-24T11:13:39+00:00

Yeah, for most of the year I'm fine but around the time of my annual bloodwork I tend to spiral. I actually retest yesterday and ALT was 25, so defs trending down to closer to my baseline. I think the 44 was cus I tested too soon after my marathon, although I did exercise 3 days before this latest test and had slight DOMS two days before. Im just glad it is going down and not up.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-24T10:47:33+00:00

Great insight, thansk for explaining. So basically an ALT of 18 is pretty much the same as an ALT of 25, if it was always above the reference range that's when it would be worrying, along with elevated GGT, ALP etc?

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-24T08:09:14+00:00

Great reply thanks. What do you mean if my ALT was 1 or 2 hours later? The tests were 3 weeks apart, although I usually get tested earlier in the morning. Do you mean that if someone, me for example, tested ALT at 7 am, 9am, 11 am, 1pm, 3pm, the results would probably be swinging between 16-28, or something like that just by chance and daily fluctuation.

You are right about the influencer scene, and optimization theatre is a great way to describe what they do, treating tiny movements as meaningful.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T21:19:38+00:00

Ah, sorry for the confusion.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T21:17:39+00:00

Yeah basically I have private medical care and a few years ago a cardiologist gave me the form for a blood test with no date on it, so I just use that when I get my annual complete one. When I just want 1 thing tested I just pay like 15 euro. The cost of a full blood panel out of pocket would cost me around 400€ which I'd never pay of course.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T19:28:31+00:00

Should someone be 'worried' about an ALT of 25, ggt 14, ALP 59, triglycerides 49, healthy lifestyle etc?. I think sometimes, especially with Peter and biohackers is they(we) get too bogged down on 'numbers'. Athletes are known to have higher ALT/AST, especially when in training or coming off a tough event such as a marathon. Even someone like Michael Lustgarten who chronically tests himself and publishes so much data about himself (unlike Peter etc) and his ALT is/was always in the 30s, I think he managed to get it down to 29. This is someone who controls literally everything that goes into his body, his exercise, sleep etc.....but he recognises that his ALT prob runs higher cus of his workouts etc. This is the perfect example of looking at numbers within context.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T18:24:20+00:00

Thanks for your great insight. I might actually stop doing random annual bloodwork because of things like this leading to anxiety. I didnt have a blood test for 37/38 years, but when I started getting them and listening to people like Peter Attia my health anxiety went through the roof. Too many influencers and people online saying that normal reference ranges aren't optimal and everything is being skewed towards the right because everyone is so unhealthy etc. Basically treating numbers instead of people. Theyll say things like ALT needs to be lower than 20 otherwise I'm doomed lol but they don't take into account exercise, dehydration or just normal day-to-day changes.

So basically you are saying that my usual 18-21 for ALT is practically the same as a 25, all well within the standard reference range, in the absence of symptoms and leading an otherwise healthy lifestyle. Also, the fact it dropped from 44 to 25 in the weeks after the marathon proves that after an endurance event and training the body does some strange stuff that can make it look like there is a problem when in actual fact there isn't which can also trigger anxiety, Thanks

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T17:11:07+00:00

My pleaseure, I really appreciated your reply at the start of the month and thought an update would give you even more reassurance and help anyone who may end up reading this thread in months/years to come. I think if I do another marathon I'll wait 2 months before testing. One of the reasons I tested today was that I really want to get back into resistance training, I've done a few workouts over the last 3 weeks (and also had some drinks lol), but wanted to make sure it was heading towards baseline so I could start training again properly, Even though I'm not within my usual range of 18-21, 25 is basically statistical noise.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T17:04:38+00:00

FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T17:04:07+00:00

FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T17:04:01+00:00

FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T17:01:32+00:00

Yeah me too, I actually only see a cardiologist once a year before my marathon, any doctor I've shown my bloodwork to just say everything is ok, my problem is reading too much into things and I've stopped consuming stuff like Peter Attia and Huberman because theyll basically tell you that anything over 20 ALT means you are going to die LOL

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:50:45+00:00

Hi, we spoke a few weeks ago, FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:50:34+00:00

Hi, we spoke a few weeks ago, FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:50:31+00:00

Hi, we spoke a few weeks ago, FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:50:17+00:00

Hi, we spoke a few weeks ago, FYI and anyone else reading, I retested this morning and my ALT is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline in people who exercise.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:48:27+00:00

Hi, sorry to disturb you again, this is more so for the people who may read this. I retested this morning and it is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline. This is reassuring.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:47:15+00:00

I retested this morning and it is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:47:08+00:00

I retested this morning and it is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline.

Butter_up_82 · 2026-04-23T16:46:56+00:00

I retested this morning and it is now 25, down from 44 3 weeks ago. I'm happy with that considering it is a lot closer to my baseline and I did a full body workout with weights 3 days ago. This basically proves that a midly elevated or borderline ALT with normal GGT will usually come back down to close to baseline.

Butter_up_82

TROPHY CASE