Last medically reviewed on November 23, 2021. Firefox. Your doctor may want to find the source of high ALP levels, or explain why ALP is low. Doctors usually use this test to diagnose bone and liver disorders. It improves digestion, makes your bones strong, and keeps your mind sharp. Medications can also change your ALP levels, so be sure to tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. Skip to Main Content; National Library of Medicine. Most clinicians order alkaline phosphatase levels to assess a patients bone and liver health, however so much promising research is appearing that confirms its positive role in gut health. Healing infarcts in other organs, including kidney, may also cause increased alkaline phosphatase); other situations in which angiofibroplasia occurs, such as healing in a large decubitus ulcer. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Your email address will not be published. In case you are pregnant, you should use a different range of the previously exposed. Pincus MR, Abraham NZ. If your test results are high or low, many factors help determine what to do next. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. National Library of Medicine Doctors typically run this test to check for liver and bone disorders. Liver function tests. 1. ALP is present (in decreasing order of abundance) in placenta, intestine, kidney, bone and liver. Further testing may also include these liver tests: If a person has high ALP levels, but the results of other liver tests are normal, the underlying cause may involve the bones rather than the liver. This could include a blockage in your bile ducts, gallstones, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and some forms of hepatitis. Hemolysis; plasma specimen; specimen collected in EDTA tube; improper labeling, Causes of high alkaline phosphatase include bone growth, healing fracture, acromegaly, osteogenic sarcoma, liver or bone metastases, leukemia, myelofibrosis, and rarely myeloma. Learn where its typically located, why it occurs, and what to do about it. The normal range of alkaline phosphatase in the blood is 20 to 140 U/L. Many medicines can interfere with blood test results. Having enough alkaline phosphatase may protect the kidneys and stop the gut from absorbing too much dietary fat. Accommodations. It measures the amount of ALP in the blood, and abnormal levels can indicate an underlying health condition. Alkaline phosphatase plays an important role in the development of bones and teeth because it is essential for mineralization. It is crucial to take these exactly as directed. For instance, they can break big molecules down into smaller parts, or they. The response of the liver to any form of biliary tree obstruction induces the synthesis of ALP by hepatocytes. SelfDecode does not treat, diagnose or cure any conditions, Hansen YBL. 1.Introduction. Washington, DC: AACC Press; 1989:204. Mg and Zn ions are required for minimal activity. 2015. They also can vary with age and sex. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase was also protective against type 2 diabetes even in obese patients [18]. All rights reserved. Philadelphia:WB Saunders Company, 1999; 676-684. Information is shared for educational purposes only. 7. What is an alkaline phosphatase level test? It is determined by measuring the increase in absorbance. Testing schedules may vary. Pag. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. To confirm biliary abnormality, an additional useful test is GT. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a33f978dc4cc620bb3fe046565be12d1" );document.getElementById("a6cbe26769").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In Paget disease of bone there is often isolated elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase. Primary or metastatic tumor in liver: there may be marked increase and GT is often high. Some of the highest levels of serum ALP are seen in Paget disease. Admission. In addition to an ALP test, a doctor may order an ALP isoenzyme test. Follow-up tests might include: Your doctor can work with you to uncover why your ALP test results are out of range, and whether thats a cause for concern. This helps protect against inflammation [14]. ISBN 9780721656106. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test is generally used to investigate for liver or bone disease. When we compared the aforementioned 2 RIs, the latter range was wider than the former, which may be happening due . . Normal blood levels of alkaline phosphatase are 20 to 140 U/L in most nonpregnant adults. Pseudohyperparathyroidism. SelfDecode has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 155. Low Alkaline Phosphatase Symptoms, Causes & Meaning, High Alkaline Phosphatase Symptoms & How to Reduce. ALP tests are quick and usually have no adverse effects. 8 Benefits of Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase There are many types of alkaline phosphatase, but the type found in the gut has been most studied to date. Chronic alcohol ingestion (in chronic alcoholism, alkaline phosphatase may be normal or increased, but often with high AST (SGOT) and/or high bilirubin and especially with high GT; MCV may be high). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a protein found in all body tissues. In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer C, eds. Pediatric reference values should be used to properly interpret alkaline phosphatase values in children and adolescents. Low ALP can also indicate a rare condition called hypophosphatasia. A person may need to fast for 612 hours before an ALP test. testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. . If you experience this complication, apply a warm compress until the swelling goes down. A rise in the alkaline phosphatase occurs with all forms of cholestasis, particularly with obstructive jaundice. As part of a routine liver function test Normal Results The normal range is 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L) or 0.73 to 2.45 microkatal per liter (kat/L). In rickets and osteomalacia, serum calcium and phosphorus are low to normal, and alkaline phosphatase may be normal or increased. Age-related reference ranges Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) IU/L Gender Age Low High Both less than 14 days 90 273 Both 14 days - <1 year 134 518 Both 1 - 9 years 156 369 . Many commonly and uncommonly used drugs elevate alkaline phosphatase, and tenfold increases may be seen with drug cholestasis. Pediatric Reference Ranges Listed in this appendix are pediatric normal ranges for some of the more common hematology and chemistry tests along with the references from which they were obtained. Causes of low alkaline phosphatase are said to include: Hypothyroidism but most hypothyroid patients have normal alkaline phosphatase. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher than normal amounts of certain chemicals, including liver enzymes, into the bloodstream, which can result in elevated liver enzymes on blood tests. These ranges were extrapolated from published ranges in the following references. Both high and low blood levels can be problematic. Our specialists handle conditions ranging from the common to the most rare. 4. Inform your doctor before your blood is taken if you have any bleeding disorders or take any blood thinners. High levels may also indicate a concern related to the bones such as rickets, Pagets disease, bone cancer, or an overactive parathyroid gland. (2013). A doctor may order an ALP test if a person has symptoms of bone or liver problems or as part of regular screening. Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found throughout the body. Normal values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. Injection of intestinal alkaline phosphatase reduces inflammatory molecules (TNF-alpha, IL-5, and IL-1beta) in newborns that suffer from gut cell death (necrotizing enterocolitis). Based on his own health success, he went on to found SelfDecode, the worlds first direct-to-consumer DNA analyzer & precision health tool that utilizes AI-driven polygenic risk scoring to produce accurate insights and health recommendations. All Rights Reserved. These tests measure substances that are released into the bloodstream if the liver is injured. Alkaline phosphatase may strengthen the intestinal barrier and help remove inflammatory toxins from the gut. They found that compared to the controls, diabetic patients had lower intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity levels [18]. Lindsay Cook, PharmD is a board-certified consultant pharmacist. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in the blood that helps break down proteins. 1. A person may be able to conduct the ALP test at home. Alkaline phosphase (ALP). Other labs may consider the normal range to be 30120 IU/l. In Paget disease of bone there is often isolated elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase. The most promising type with possible therapeutic benefits is the one found in your gut. Sepsis. It also reduced small intestinal bacterial overgrowth by more than eighty percent [13]. Siddique A, Kowdley KV. More moderate elevations of alkaline phosphatase (between 400 and 1000 units/L . Diabetes mellitus, diabetic hepatic lipidosis. The normal range for children is higher than that for adults, especially for infants and teens because their bones are growing rapidly. Bone cancer occurs when a tumor, or atypical mass of tissue, forms in a bone. allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Each 100 U/L of liver alkaline phosphatase contributes an additional 2.5 to 5.8 g/L to the bone specific alkaline phosphatase result. Learn more about the liver here. J Liver. It is also elevated in diseases of the skeletal system, such as Paget disease, hyperparathyroidism, rickets, and osteomalacia, as well as with fractures and malignant tumors. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. If the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is high and the GGT is in normal range it suggests a bone disorder. This procedure does not provide serial monitoring; it is intended for one-time use only. Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme. However, this research is limited and likely ongoing, so no alkaline phosphatase supplement currently available for sale. 2013;46:1197-1219, 4. Alkaline phosphatase is used as a tumor marker.3,4. Damage to these and other organs can trigger an increase of ALP in the bloodstream. Martin P. Approach to the patient with liver disease. The treatment for abnormal ALP levels depends on the cause. We've got you covered. This determination may be helpful in localized obstructive problems such as hepatic metastases. Extraordinary kid care It is recommended that only one assay method be used consistently to monitor each patient's course of therapy. A related test is the ALP isoenzyme test. C peptide. 3rd ed. The normal range of ALP varies from person to person and depends on your age, blood type, gender, and whether youre pregnant. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. 3,4. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens. . Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc.] Clinical, biochemical and genetic spectrum of low alkaline phosphatase levels in adults. Learn about the possible causes of elevated liver enzymes, Cirrhosis is a liver condition that causes irreversible scarring on the liver. Synthesis of ALP in the bloodstream may include intervals based on age sex... Care it is intended for one-time use only to investigate for liver or bone disease bacterial overgrowth more... 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