Question:
Can anyone help me understand a couple of high and low levels?

I just received my 6 month blood labs and all but a few were in normal range. My Glucose was 111 and normal is 65-110. My ALT (SGPT) is 77 and normal is 7-56. My magnesium is 2.3 and normal is 1.7-2.2. I had two that were low. My cholesterol is 109 with normal being 120-200 and my MCHC is 32.1 with normal being 33.0-37. Can anyone enlighten me on these and tell me what I can do to get them in the normal range. Should I be concerned?    — livnliter (posted on January 12, 2001)

January 12, 2001
I'm no expert, but I do know what the values are about. Are you diabetic? If you are, 111 is a very reasonable glucose. Of course, high is not good, but that little of difference could be a lab problem, if you are not eating sweets. Most importantly, was it a FASTING glucose? Fasting vs. post-eating makes all the difference, as the lab norms are aimed at FASTING values. A high magnesium (little high) is better than a little low. The SGPT is related to the liver enzymes, and can be affected by liver disease (VERY unlikely with such a mild elevation), medications such as Ibuprofen, and anticonvulsants, gallstones, having the flu, etc. I wouldn't sweat it. Low cholesterol is not a bad thing--are you eating enough fats? And MCHC has to do with the amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells--a little low can be related to mild anemia (are you eating your high-iron and B-12 /folate foods?). But here's the good news: If any of these were of concern, your doctor would have said so! And lab values which are a little off" are very common--in fact, I'm pre-op, in pretty good health, and mine were wackier than that. You're doing a good job. Ask the MD and/or nutritionist if you're worried.--Jesse
   — Jesse M.