Key Benefits

• Check for alcohol-related liver stress and blood cell changes you can act on.
• Spot early liver impact with GGT elevations after regular heavy drinking.
• Clarify alcohol-related injury using AST to ALT pattern; ratio above two suggests alcohol.
• Flag heavy-use effects on red cells; high MCV shows enlarged cells from alcohol.
• Guide treatment intensity and nutrition; elevations prompt counseling, folate/B12 support, and imaging.
• Track recovery and return to drinking; GGT falls in weeks, MCV over months.
• Protect long-term liver health by identifying risks for fibrosis, cirrhosis, and complications early.
• Best interpreted with PEth or CDT, plus your drinking history and symptoms.

What are Alcohol Use Disorder biomarkers?

Alcohol Use Disorder biomarkers are measurable signals in blood that reveal how much and how recently the body has been exposed to alcohol, and how organs are responding. They give an objective view beyond self-report, helping confirm risky use, estimate recency and intensity, gauge liver strain, and track recovery. Some markers are direct fingerprints of alcohol itself, formed when alcohol attaches to fats in red blood cell membranes (phosphatidylethanol, PEth). Others are by-products of alcohol processing detectable for shorter windows (ethyl glucuronide, EtG; ethyl sulfate, EtS). A second group reflects the body’s response to sustained drinking, such as changes in a liver transport protein (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, CDT), rises in liver enzymes (gamma-glutamyltransferase, GGT; aspartate aminotransferase, AST; alanine aminotransferase, ALT), and enlarged red blood cells (mean corpuscular volume, MCV). Together, these tests translate drinking behavior into biology, supporting diagnosis, assessing harm, tailoring treatment, and monitoring abstinence or relapse over time.

Why is blood testing for Alcohol Use Disorder important?

Alcohol Use Disorder leaves fingerprints in blood: enzymes released from stressed liver cells, and changes in red blood cell size from bone marrow and nutrient effects. Together, these biomarkers reveal how alcohol is influencing liver metabolism, inflammation, blood formation, and, by extension, energy, cognition, and metabolic balance.Typical reference ranges: GGT roughly 10–40, AST about 10–40, ALT about 7–56, and MCV about 80–100. In general, GGT and AST/ALT are healthiest toward the low–middle of normal, while MCV sits most stably near the midpoint.Values within range suggest intact hepatocyte membranes, limited enzyme induction, and red cells of normal size—usually meaning minimal ongoing alcohol impact. Marked elevations tell a different story: GGT rises with hepatic enzyme induction from alcohol; AST and ALT increase with cell injury, and an AST higher than ALT, often approaching a two-to-one pattern, is classic for alcohol-related liver injury. MCV drifting above 100 reflects macrocytosis from direct marrow toxicity and folate deficiency, often before anemia appears, with fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, glossitis, or neuropathy. Women can show enzyme and MCV changes at lower intake than men, and pregnancy typically lowers GGT while iron shifts may pull MCV down. When values are low, they usually indicate minimal enzyme induction; notably low MCV suggests iron deficiency or thalassemia rather than alcohol effects, more common in menstruating teens and women.Big picture: Tracking GGT, AST/ALT, and MCV links alcohol exposure to liver, marrow, and metabolic systems and forecasts risks such as cirrhosis, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, cognitive decline, and certain cancers. Trends alongside bilirubin, INR, platelets, ferritin, triglycerides, and CDT sharpen the view of whole-body impact and long-term health trajectory.

What insights will I get?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) blood testing provides a window into how chronic alcohol exposure affects your body’s core systems, including liver function, blood cell health, and overall metabolic stability. At Superpower, we focus on three key biomarkers: gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Together, these markers help reveal the impact of alcohol on your liver, blood, and broader physiological balance.GGT is an enzyme found in liver cells and is often elevated when the liver is under stress from alcohol. AST and ALT are enzymes that help process amino acids; when liver cells are damaged, these enzymes leak into the bloodstream, signaling liver injury. MCV measures the average size of your red blood cells, which can increase with chronic alcohol use due to its effects on bone marrow and nutrient absorption.When these biomarkers are within normal ranges, it suggests that your liver is processing toxins efficiently, your blood cells are healthy, and your metabolic systems are stable. Elevated GGT or AST/ALT may indicate liver stress or injury, while a high MCV can point to changes in blood cell production linked to alcohol’s effects on the body. Persistent abnormalities in these markers can signal ongoing physiological strain and reduced system resilience.Interpretation of these results depends on several factors, including age, sex, underlying health conditions, medications, and even recent illness. Laboratory methods and reference ranges can also vary, so results are best understood in the context of your overall health profile.