GGT Reflects the Need for Antioxidants and More

Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is an enzyme that helps recycle the vital antioxidant compound called glutathione. Glutathione is essential to detoxification of toxins, cell growth and death, wound healing, and metabolism of cysteine, glutamine, sulfur, and nitric oxide.

GGT levels will increase as the need for glutathione increases so blood levels go up with oxidative stress, exposure to toxins including heavy metals and pesticides, liver disease, and gallbladder disease. It is an especially sensitive marker for detecting cholestasis, cholecystitis, and biliary obstruction. Elevated levels can also be seen with alcohol intake, cardiovascular disorders, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, pancreatitis, Epstein-Barr viral infection, and the use of certain medications. 

 Low levels of GGT may be associated with certain medications as well as an insufficiency of magnesium or vitamin B6. 

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