Diet for High SGPT and SGOT Levels in Pregnancy

Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) are enzymes found in the liver and heart tissues. SGPT is also known as alanine transferase (ALT), and SGOT is known as aspartate transaminase (AST). These enzymes help in converting food into energy. High SGPT and SGOT levels in pregnancy detected in the blood may indicate liver damage, cancer, or other conditions. The normal range of SGPT is 4 to 36 Units/litre of serum, while that of SGOT is 8 to 22 Units/litre of serum. High SGPT and SGOT levels in pregnancy indicate that the woman is likely to suffer from liver disease. However, low SGPT levels are linked with vitamin B deficiency and alcoholics.

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High SGPT and SGOT levels in pregnancy may be due to:

1. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
2. Hepatitis (swollen and inflamed liver)
3. Hemochromatosis (increased iron in the body)
4. Liver ischemia (decreased blood flow to the liver)
5. Liver cancer
6. Mononucleosis (an infection that spreads through saliva)
7. Death of liver tissues
8. Pancreatitis (swollen and inflamed pancreas)
9. Use of drugs that are harmful to the liver

Eating nutritious food during pregnancy will provide the baby with several vital nutrients, which will eventually help the baby grow. There is no need for any particular diet but to include a variety of foods every day to get the right balance of nutrients for you and your baby. A pregnant woman with high SGPT and SGOT level should include diet which has the following nutrients:

1. Minerals such as iron, calcium
2. Protein
3. Vitamin A, B complex, C, and D.
4. Omega-3 fatty acids
5. Fibre
6. Antioxidants

If you have noticed any of the above symptoms or your report shows high SGPT and SGOT levels in pregnancy, consult your doctor to know what is best for you so as to lower the levels of SGPT and SGOT. However,  natural home remedies and intake of balanced diet can also help lower the SGPT and SGOT levels during pregnancy. Consuming a balanced healthy diet, not only benefits your liver but boosts overall health. This will help you and your baby to be fit, strong, and healthy. Below mentioned are some of the diet tips to reduce the levels of SGPT and SGOT:

1. Include a balanced diet: Add food items such as fruits, vegetables, grains, fats, oil, and milk products.
2. Fruits: Add a bowl of fresh fruit daily to your diet to help repair the liver. Fruits such as citrus fruits, apples, grapes, and berries are liver-friendly. They contain antioxidants that may improve the liver's health and lower SGOT and SGPT levels. 
3. Vegetables: Include cruciferous and green leafy vegetables in your diet. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are rich sources of glutathione. At the same time, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, kale, collard green, etc. are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, chlorophyll, and glutathione, that are good for the liver and aid in flushing out toxins from the body. These vegetables take care of the daily fibre requirement too. Sufficient fibre intake aids the liver in working at optimum levels.
4. Fish: Include fish such as salmon, sardines, and tuna as these are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help lower liver inflammation. These fats may prevent extra fat accumulation in the liver and help restore normal SGPT and SGOT levels in pregnancy.
5. Nuts and seeds: Nuts are rich in vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, fats, and unsaturated fatty acids, which may improve the overall health of the liver. Also, seeds such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc., contain healthy fat which is beneficial to the liver and can be added to salads or juices. 
6. Beverages: Drink beverages such as green tea and coffee. Drinking coffee during pregnancy can be risky. If you still wish to consume coffee, limit its intake to 200 mg a day or less. One can drink decaffeinated varieties that contain little or no caffeine. Caffeine increases the level of antioxidants in the liver, which may reduce the abnormal liver enzymes for individuals with liver conditions. Tea may act as an antioxidant that may help in forming liver enzymes. Regularly drinking green tea may lower the effects of liver disease. 
7. Whole grain: Whole grain products such as brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and millet are suitable for the liver. They have high fibre content and lower sugar storage in the liver.
8. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. This helps the liver to function more efficiently.

Please note: Before implementing any diet changes, please consult your doctor.

If you want to lower your SGPT and SGOT levels, you must make dietary modifications. Below is a diet to lower the SGPT and SGOT levels:

Breakfast

1. One cup of green tea or black coffee
2. Three to four cups of berries or fruits (orange, apple, cherries, blueberries, strawberries)
3. One cup of cereal with milk
4. One-fourth cup of nuts and seeds
5. Half cup dried oat with milk or water
6. Two scrambled eggs

Lunch

1. One slice of whole grain bread with a bowl of vegetable
2. Three to four oz tofu, fish, or meat
3. One egg and sandwich
4. One bowl of crispy chicken salad

Dinner 

1. Half a cup of lentils or beans
2. Three-forth cups brown rice with leafy vegetable
3. Three-forth cups brown rice with mixed vegetable
4. Steak tacos
5. Baked fish and roasted vegetables

Adding food items that are good for the liver is very important, but at the same time, it is vital to cut out some foods/drinks that do not benefit your liver health. Avoid foods and drinks such as:

1. Aerated fizzy drinks: occasionally, consuming fizzy drinks is not harmful. They contain high amounts of sugar. However, daily consumption may start to damage the liver. They may also cause obesity and weight gain that eventually affects your liver and increases the possibility of developing a fatty liver.
2. Fried foods: Fried and baked food items such as fries, chips, muffins, and pastries are harmful to the liver. They may cause fats to build up in the liver cells, resulting in fatty liver disease.
3. Alcohol: Drinking excessive alcohol is considered the most common cause of liver disease (acute and chronic). It affects the liver and may cause fatty liver disease or other diseases like cirrhosis.
4. Foods containing high salt: Foods such as processed food, canned foods, etc., which have too much salt, may cause water retention in our bodies. Salty foods are never easy on our liver. Therefore, one must avoid consuming processed and canned foods with high sodium content.
5. Processed meat: Processed meats, including bacon, hot dogs, and salami, have high saturated fats, which, when consumed for a long time, may damage the liver. Also, red meat, such as pork and beef, has high saturated fats. Several liver transplant surgeons suggest that people who have fatty liver disease must avoid such food products.

Regular exercise is equally important as diet. Diet and exercise go hand in hand to keep your liver and body healthy. If your pregnancy is normal, you can start or continue your regular physical activity as eating a well-balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising can help you with a liver condition (fatty liver).

1. A pregnant woman should exercise 30 mins on all days or 20 min for 3 to 4 days a week (both durations are beneficial).
2. The main aim of exercising should be that it benefits your health during pregnancy.
3. Prenatal yoga is a helpful, low-impact, and great exercise that is truly beneficial for pregnant women.

Start your exercise slowly and gently. However, you must discuss with your Ob-gyn if it is safer for you to exercise or not.

The growing baby inside you needs all possible nutrients to grow healthy. Therefore, staying fit and healthy during pregnancy and eating the right food is very crucial. Avoiding certain food items  too can go a long way in keeping SGPT and SGOT levels in check during pregnancy. Also, do not forget to include exercise to your daily routine, but not without doctor’s consultation.
However, if you have any queries about the high SGPT and SGOT levels in pregnancy and what diet to follow for the same, feel free to contact our personal care team. They will answer all your questions. You can also visit our website HexaHealth to learn more about pregnancy-related information.