Will isolated rise in GGT come to normal with alcohol abstinence?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your weight seems to be abnormally high, and that why it brings no surprise to me for such presence of fatty liver disease and such elevation of the GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase).

However, an isolated rise in GGT is not suggestive of fatty liver disease, so there is a possibility of alcohol contributing to this elevation partly. GGT can remain raised for weeks, and up to month even, in certain cases, after alcohol abstinence. You should tell me how much time it has passed since you gave up alcohol? The hepatitis B profile testings such that you have cured past infection of hepatitis B. This is a good sign. Do not worry about this for now.

I think you need some more testing for the evaluation of the isolated rise of GGT. Plus some testing to look for the metabolic complications of obesity namely diabetes, cholesterol, and thyroid gland testing. I will write down the tests below, get them done, and update me about the results once they are available.

Reduce your weight by at least 10% of your current body weight, before you can see improvement in the GGT levels.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, it can take that much time before it is going to completely settle. Since you were taking alcohol until 18th July, that elevation is expected. So you need to do CDT (carbohydrate deficient transferrin) testing which I have recommended on my last response.

HbA1c is 6.3, which suggests early diabetes. For this, there are two treatment options. The one is you start losing weight, and take full dietary precaution for control of diabetes. The other option is, I should start the treatment right away. The former option is available to you because the HbA1c value is just above the upper limit of the normal and we can give this a try. I just want to know your take on this.

The weight reduction should be 10% of your current body weight i.e. 18 kg loss should be achieved before any clinical benefit is seen in your fatty liver disease, diabetes, and overall health. Plus, take good control of your diet, such as avoiding excessive carbs in the diet. No added sugars, no soft drinks, energy drinks.

On further assessment and modification on your diet, I recommend you to seek a nutritionist advise which would help you calculate your calories and will give you a diet plan for your diabetes and weight reduction. They may provide you a list of foods that should be avoided and foods that are free to be used.

Ideally, if someone wants to lose weight, the daily caloric intake should be no more than 1500 to 2000 Kcal in a day (carbohydrate, proteins, fats, all combined).

The preferred drug treatment for diabetes in your case would be tablet Metformin 500 mg twice daily, plus tablet Sitagliptin 50 mg twice daily. If you wish to start as well, in addition to above treatment strategy of weight reduction and dieting, I recommend you to do that. But need your approval on this.

I am not suggesting any treatment for elevated GGT since this will surely settle in the coming few weeks. But please keep alcohol away from yourself now. Since you just stopped alcohol recently, the GGT elevation seems to be because of that. So do not get all blood investigations which I suggested you in my previous response.

Wait for a few weeks (say four weeks) and repeat complete liver function tests and follow up with me.