title: Impacts of common factors of life style on serum liver enzymes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impacts of gender, age and factors of life style (alcohol, overweight, coffee and smoking) on serum liver enzymes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were measured from 6269 apparently healthy individuals (2851 men, 3418 women, mean age 45 ± 12 years, range 25-74 years) in a national cross-sectional health survey. All subjects underwent detailed clinical examinations and interviews including the amount and pattern of alcohol use, coffee consumption and smoking habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this population with a mean ± SD alcohol consumption of 65 ± 105 g/wk and body mass index (BMI) of 26.1 ± 4.3 kg/m(2), both ALT and GGT were significantly influenced by alcohol use (P < 0.001) and BMI (P < 0.001), whereas smoking increased only GGT (P < 0.001). A significant effect of age on ALT was seen in men (P < 0.001) whereas not in women. Significant two-factor interactions of alcohol use in men were observed with age (ALT: P < 0.01; GGT: P < 0.001) and BMI (GGT: P < 0.05). For ALT, a significant interaction also occurred between BMI and age (P < 0.005). In contrast, women showed significant interactions of alcohol use with BMI (GGT: P < 0.05), smoking (GGT: P < 0.001), and coffee consumption (GGT: P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Life-style associated changes in liver enzymes may reflect health risks, which should be considered in the definition of normal limits for liver enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Joanna Danielsson, Päivikki Kangastupa, Onni Niemelä, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and University of Tampere, 60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Danielsson
authors.affiliation: Joanna Danielsson, Päivikki Kangastupa, Onni Niemelä, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and University of Tampere, 60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivikki
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kangastupa
authors.affiliation: Joanna Danielsson, Päivikki Kangastupa, Onni Niemelä, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and University of Tampere, 60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
authors.affiliation: Joanna Danielsson, Päivikki Kangastupa, Onni Niemelä, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and University of Tampere, 60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aalto
authors.affiliation: Joanna Danielsson, Päivikki Kangastupa, Onni Niemelä, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and University of Tampere, 60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Onni
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Niemelä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003069:Coffee; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; C554782:gamma-glutamyltransferase, human; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Aging; Alcohol; Liver enzymes; Obesity; Oxidative stress; Smoking