LDH

Lactate Dehydrogenase

What's

LDH

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an important enzyme found all over your body, such as in your blood, muscles, brain, heart, and lungs. It has a crucial job in changing sugar into energy that your cells can use. This process of turning sugar into energy is necessary for the healthy functioning of your body's cells and organs. You can think of LDH as a behind-the-scenes worker, like someone who runs a power plant, making sure your cells have the energy they need to do their jobs. Even though you might not know it's there or how important it is, LDH helps keep your body working smoothly.

If Your Levels Are High

Elevated LDH levels might mean that your body is experiencing more tissue damage or changes than usual. This can happen for various reasons, such as intense workouts, taking certain medications (like statins or chemotherapy drugs), or dealing with health issues like liver disease, anemia, or common infections. In simple terms, it's like your body's energy factory is working extra hard to keep up with the demands, which can lead to more LDH in your blood. Keep in mind that high LDH levels alone don't confirm these specific causes, but they can be a clue to what's going on in your body.

Symptoms of High Levels

Symptoms of high levels of LDH may not be specific and can vary widely, but they could include fatigue, shortness of breath, or general weakness.

If Your Levels are Low

Low LDH levels might mean that your body's cells aren't making energy as well as they should. This could happen for different reasons, like not having enough B-vitamins, which are super important for making energy, or having an imbalance in electrolytes, which help cells work properly. Some medications, like cholesterol-lowering drugs, could also make LDH levels lower. Conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or an underactive thyroid might be linked to low LDH levels too, as they can affect how well cells produce energy.

Symptoms of Low Levels

Symptoms of low levels of LDH might not be easily noticeable, as they can be quite general and may include fatigue, weakness, and a lack of energy.

See References

Test for

Lactate Dehydrogenase

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) by Access Med Labs

Serum

This is a single-marker test measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Elevated serum levels of LDH have been observed in a variety of disease states.

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) by Access Labcorp Draw

Serum

This is a single-marker test measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Elevated serum levels of LDH have been observed in a variety of disease states.

Female Functional Wellness Panel by Precision Point

Serum

Plasma

Precision Point Diagnostics' Female Functional Wellness Panel is an excellent way to start and track any patient’s journey to optimal wellness. It includes a CBC, CMP, complete hormone profile, thyroid panel, and nutritional markers to assess a patient's overall health.

Comprehensive Screen w/ Thyroid by Precision Point

Whole Blood

Serum

Precision Point Diagnostics' Comprehensive Screen provides the usual information found in a CMP and a CBC, but enhanced with additional thyroid, nutritional, and metabolic markers that are essential to an integrative and functional medicine work-up. This test is perfect for practitioners who want an expanded routine blood analysis that pairs well with other functional tests.

Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme Panel by Access Med Labs

Serum

This panel measures lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) is an enzyme found in almost all of the body's cells; elevated levels of this enzyme can be used as a general marker of cell injury. LD isoenzymes are used to determine the source of elevated LDH activity, as each isoenzyme tends to be concentrated in specific body tissues.

CONTENTS

What is it?

High Levels

Low Levels

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