3. Elevated Liver Enzymes on Routine Blood Panels
Often, the very first sign of a fatty liver appears not in a physical symptom, but on a piece of paper during your annual physical. When liver cells become inflamed or damaged by excess fat, they leak specific enzymes—namely ALT and AST—directly into your bloodstream. Your healthcare provider checks for these elevated enzymes through a standard comprehensive metabolic blood panel. Because fatty liver disease typically operates silently in its initial stages, maintaining a schedule of routine blood work remains your strongest defense. Identifying elevated enzymes gives you a clear, objective warning signal long before visible physical symptoms ever begin to surface.
