Elevated liver enzymes indicate damage or inflammation to the liver cells. When the liver becomes inflamed it leaks a higher level of enzymes into the blood stream which can be detected in routine blood work. Having high liver enzymes isn’t something uncommon, and it surely isn’t a signal to panic as soon as you find them in your lab results. Potentially indicating liver damage, high liver enzymes are detected by a simple blood test. Although less common in the United States, liver cancer remains one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, according to the MayoClinic website 1 2.Because the early stages of liver cancer fail to produce any physical symptoms, a blood test, known as a liver function test, determines the amount of four different enzymes present in the blood 1. When the liver is injured or inflamed, its cells may leak higher amounts of certain chemicals such as the liver enzymes into the blood streams. Even in conditions when AST and ALT are very elevated, the liver still may function properly. While liver enzymes are usually found in the liver, damage to this important organ causes the enzymes to leak into the bloodstream. Find your way to better health. Testing. Liver failure happens when your liver can’t work well enough to perform its many vital functions, such as producing bile to help you digest food and clearing your blood of toxic substances. It happens to many of us, and for dozens of reasons. High liver enzymes are one of the more frequent findings at a routine doctor visit. Won’t kill anyone! Consequently, if you have "elevated liver enzymes" or a high or abnormal liver test, you need to ask your physician exactly what all of the tests indicate. Two of the commonly found enzymes in liver are alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Eat high-fiber foods: High-fiber foods are a great way to make sure that many of your body’s processes are doing what they should be, and they can help break down cholesterol, making sure your liver has to do less work to process these. Liver Enzymes. When the inflamed or the injured liver cells leak more than normal amount of chemicals including the liver enzymes into the bloodstream, it results in the elevated liver enzyme. This may result to increased levels of the enzymes as detected in blood tests. The high levels of liver enzymes won’t kill you! But the process that led (or is leading) to the elevation in liver enzymes might! Elevated liver enzymes levels signify some kind of hepatic injury or damage. A high level of liver enzymes in the blood may indicate inflammation or injury to liver cells, states the Mayo Clinic. However, it is extremely important to learn what they can be pointing at and what should you be doing after discovering you have elevated liver enzymes.