title: Healthy ranges of serum alanine aminotransferase levels in Iranian blood donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The healthy ranges for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are less well studied. The aim of this study was to define the upper limit of normal (ULN) for serum ALT levels, and to assess factors associated with serum ALT activity in apparently healthy blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,939 blood donors were included. ALT measurements were performed for all cases using the same laboratory method. Healthy ranges for ALT levels were computed from the population at the lowest risk for liver disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between clinical factors and ALT levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ALT activity was independently associated with body mass index (BMI) and male gender, but not associated with age. Association of ALT with BMI was more prominent in males than in females. Upper limit of normal for non-overweight women (BMI of less than 25) was 34 U/L, and for non-overweight men was 40 U/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ALT is strongly associated with sex and BMI. The normal range of ALT should be defined for male and female separately.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamadnejad
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourshams
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohamadkhani
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajabiani
authors.forename: Ali Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.forename: Seyed Meysam
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alimohamadi
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Razjooyan
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamar-Abadi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase