Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Evaluation of Amino Acid Consumption in Cultured Bone Cells and Isolated Bone Shafts
Published on: April 13, 2022
Body Building and Aminotransferase Elevations: A Review.
Jaimy Villavicencio Kim1, George Y Wu2
1Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
Strenuous exercise and bodybuilding supplements can elevate aminotransferases, mimicking liver injury. Distinguishing muscle from liver damage requires examining other muscle enzymes, not just aminotransferase patterns.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Elevated aminotransferases can indicate liver injury, but other factors exist.
- Bodybuilding activities and supplement use are increasingly associated with elevated aminotransferases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms of aminotransferase elevation linked to bodybuilding.
- To differentiate exercise- or supplement-induced elevations from liver damage.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical trials and case reports.
- Analysis of studies on exercise, supplement use, and aminotransferase levels.
Main Results:
- Strenuous exercise and weight lifting can elevate aminotransferases without liver damage.
- Supplements like anabolic steroids and ephedra are linked to aminotransferase elevations.
- Aminotransferase patterns do not reliably distinguish muscle from liver injury.
Conclusions:
- Other muscle enzymes aid in differentiating muscle from liver injury.
- Gradual intensity increases prevent exercise-induced aminotransferase elevations.
- Investigate bodybuilding, exercise, and supplements when liver injury is ruled out.
More Related Videos
08:04Isolation of Primary Mouse Hepatocytes for Nascent Protein Synthesis Analysis by Non-radioactive L-azidohomoalanine Labeling Method
Published on: October 23, 2018
12:59Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
Phase II Reactions: Glutathione Conjugation and Mercapturic Acid Formation
Several distinctive characteristics distinguish glutathione conjugation from other phase II...
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Phase II Reactions: Acetylation Reactions
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...