Can Stress Cause High GGT Levels?

Stress does not directly cause high GGT levels, but stress can negatively impact the liver, and liver disease can cause high GGT levels.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a blood test that measures the level of the enzyme GGT to screen for diseases of the liver or bile ducts. 

• The normal range of GGT for adults is 5 to 40 U/L.
• GGT may be measured along with other tests (such as the ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin tests) to differentiate between liver or bile duct disorders and bone disease. 
• GGT may also be used to screen for, or monitor, alcohol use.

High GGT levels are caused by: 

• Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
• Blocked flow of bile from the liver (cholestasis)
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• Lack of blood flow to the liver
• Liver tissue death
• Liver cancer or tumor
• Use of drugs that are toxic to the liver
• Alcohol use/abuse
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Lung disease
• Pancreas disease
• Use of certain medications
  • Phenytoin
  • Phenobarbital

Stress does not directly cause high GGT levels, but stress can have a negative impact on the liver, and liver disease can cause high GGT levels. There are studies that have shown links between stress and liver disease: 

• The release of cortisol, a stress hormone, can worsen liver injury
• During stress, natural killer cells (NKT) are expanded in the liver and, may contribute to liver cell death and worsening of
• liver disease
• In the part of the brain that controls the liver, stress was found to impact blood flow that can lead to or trigger liver damage
• Stress can contribute to the inflammatory process that takes
• place in the liver