Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme primarily found in the liver, in addition to cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, kidneys, brain, and red blood cells. Damaged cells containing AST release it into the bloodstream. AST is commonly measured as part of liver function panels, and raised levels may reflect liver damage. However, because it originates from several organ systems, elevated AST is less specific for liver injury than alanine aminotransferase (ALT). AST is commonly measured alongside ALT to assess liver health and differentiate between liver-related and non-liver causes of enzyme elevation. [48]

[48]Lala V, Zubair M, Minter DA. Liver Function Tests. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482489/

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