Even a weight trainer engaged in heavy lifting will return out of the norm results even with no use of anabolic steroids. Now we all know the liver is one of the most important organs in the body Duh! – they all are! Detoxification, numerous processes involved in the conversion of food for energy, growth and repair.

The secretions assist in fat digestion, production of high density lipoprotein Cholestrol (HDL-C) and destruction of the arch enemy low density lipoprotein Cholestrol (LDL-C). Go figure, at rest our liver receives around 30% of the total blood supply, (have a good look at some next time your in the butchers).

Liver function tests actually detect enzyme levels (biological catalyst, want to know more? – go do a biochemistry course). A weight trainer’s intense workouts will break down large amounts of skeletal muscle cells (if you’ve been working out properly anyway).

This and intramuscular injections can distort test results. So what did I need to tell my Doctor so we know what to worry about and what he can sigh about people wanting to have bulging muscles? The tests involve a range of enzyme markers; let’s look at the ones pertinent to weight lifters.

All of the following are parameters measured in a full blood haematology profile, I include it here for completeness sake, but in reality only a few of the indices are of interest to us as weight trainers.

Haemoglobin : the measure of the amount of the major blood protein of red blood cells, a low count may indicate anaemia. Poor diet and B12 and folic acid deficiency may account for this (so go eat some liver and spinach, wholesome foods)

Red cells : weird one, measures the amount of red cells in a given volume of blood. These are produced by the bone marrow and survive for around 3 weeks, certain toxins namely alcohol can result in larger than normal cells (macrocytosis) – problem if your trying to squeeze the fat arse cells through small capillaries!

HCT ratio PCV (haematocrit ratio, packed cell volume / MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin / MCHC (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations) – are all red cell indices describing the shape and content of red blood cells. (Incidentally I have the trait for genetic disease sickle cell anaemia, which would show up in these indices as misshaped red blood cells.)

ESR (erythocyte sedimentation rate) is a good broad indication of a patient’s health. My one always comes in high when suffering from an infection (some treatments can compromise the immune system). Many inflammatory conditions can also return a high test result.

Platelets; represents the average number in a given volume of blood, and are essential for helping blood to clot (a low count could lead to bruising or prolonged bleeding from a wound). Use of Aspirin in an ECA stack can also exacerbate this!

White cell count can indicate viral or bacterial infection as this test result would rise with an infection as white cells increase and produce antibodies to combat infection (this is also a good reason to have good muscle mass – where did you think the protein to synthesis antibodies came from?)

Use of non-steroidal bodybuilding aids can also have an impact on your condition such as medicine (more on Aspirin, Caffeine and pain killers and stimulants in another article).

The above tests are not normally looked at in the GP’s consulting room, unless specific problems have been encountered. The following test parameters are the ones that are usual to weight trainers but sound alarm bells to any consulting Doctor interpreting the results, not used to having a 200lb plus muscle monster in front of him.

(Part 2 coming soon…)

Take care and God bless

- Mick Hart.
Founder of Mick Hart Training Systems and the No Bull Collection Magazine.

- Layman’s Guides to Steroids I and II

- Layman’s Guides to Steroids III (new)