Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found throughout the body. ALP is most abundant in the liver and bones, and high ALP levels may stem from a health problem in these areas. It exists in different forms, depending on where it originates from [1]. Permission is granted in perpetuity, without payment of license fees or royalties, to use, copy, or distribute the LOINC codes for any commercial or non-commercial purpose, subject to the terms under the license agreement found at https://loinc.org/license/. 2023 Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. It is recommended that only one assay method be used consistently to monitor each patient's course of therapy. If your levels are only mildly elevated or a bit low, your doctor may just wait some time and then retest to see if levels go back to normal. nhs.uk/Conditions/Rickets/Pages/Introduction.aspx, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4062654/, Identifying Gallbladder Problems and Their Symptoms, Bone Cancer: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and More, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, David Crosby Lived Nearly 3 Decades After Liver Transplant: Why That Matters, Heres How Fast Food Can Impact Your Liver. Pregnancy can elevate the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in the blood because the placenta can produce ALP. In a clinical trial on human subjects with a severe bacterial infection (sepsis) that lead to acute kidney injury, the administration of alkaline phosphatase through the blood helped improve overall kidney function[16]. Both high and low blood levels can be problematic. An obstruction of the liver or damage to it causes ALP levels to rise. Increases in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity commonly originate from either one or both of 2 sources: liver and bone. In rare cases, phlebitis (inflammation of the vein) may develop. 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. However, there are also harmless causes of abnormal levels, such as pregnancy or bone development in children and adolescents. Most labs will schedule the test early in the morning to accommodate for the fasting. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. A person may need to fast for 612 hours before an ALP test. The process is quick and typically causes little pain or discomfort. Explore our network of care for kids, from the tiniest to teens and young adults. They also can vary with age and gender. The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. 25th ed. Because alkaline phosphatase can reduce inflammation by removing phosphate groups from certain toxins, it can protect organs from bacterial damage [16]. 0.17-0.66 nmol/L. If ALP comes back high, the doctor may order the ALP isozyme test to see which specific type of alkaline phosphatase is elevated. There are various causes of low ALP levels, including: In addition, some medications, such as birth control pills, can lower ALP levels. Lowe D, John S. Alkaline phosphatase. Medications can also change your ALP levels, so be sure to tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. 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. It is found in osteoblasts, hepatocytes, leukocytes, the kidneys, spleen, placenta, prostate, and the small intestine. Some studies show Curcumin increases intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity levels in gut cells [9]. 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. Joe Cohen flipped the script on conventional and alternative medicineand it worked. StatPearls. Many medicines can interfere with blood test results. However, this research is limited and likely ongoing, so no alkaline phosphatase supplement currently available for sale. Enzyme serves a biomarker for liver, bone, and other diseases. Sclerosing cholangitis (eg, with ulcerative colitis), although importantly, 3% of cases of symptomatic sclerosing cholangitis may have normal serum ALP.6 Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography might be considered then in patients with diseases known to be associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis and with appropriate symptomatology even though ALP level is normal. . Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? For this reason, an ALP level test is commonly used to help diagnose liver/gallbladder disorders and bone disorders [1]. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. Last medically reviewed on November 5, 2021. What is the normal range of alkaline phosphatase? Estey MP, Cohen AH, Colantonio DA, et al: CLSI-based transference of the CALIPER database of pediatric reference intervals from Abbott to Beckman, Ortho, Roche and Siemens Clinical Chemistry Assays: Direct validation using reference samples from the CALIPER cohort. 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. Pincus MR, Abraham NZ. A person may be able to conduct the ALP test at home. Blood pressure. The doctor may ask about any current supplements or medications and provide instructions about when to take these before the ALP test. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. World-class docs Roche Diagnostics; 02/2012). Mice without intestinal alkaline phosphatase absorb fat very fast. [Clin. We report here the normal range of serum alkaline phophatase activity as measured by the method proposed by Hausamen et al. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test is generally used to investigate for liver or bone disease. What does a low blood alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level mean? Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. Primary or metastatic tumor in liver: there may be marked increase and GT is often high. It improves digestion, makes your bones strong, and keeps your mind sharp. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. For the best experience, tryChrome or This is done in your doctors office or in a clinical lab. Additionally, any condition that affects bone growth or causes the increased activity of bone cells can increase ALP levels in the blood. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. 2014; 147: pp. For the moment, it is unknown the metabolic function of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Liver function tests. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. 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. Normal ranges of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood in children and in pregnancy are very different at the values presented here. Alkaline phosphase (ALP). Learn about the causes of cirrhosis, diagnosis, prevention, and how to. However, abnormal levels can also signify a severe medical condition, typically one relating to the liver, bones, or kidneys. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. We avoid using tertiary references. ISBN 9780721656106. (Press Enter or Space to Go to Landing Page or Press Down to expand Menu), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Combatting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement. Washington, DC: AACC Press; 1989:204. Pregnant women have higher blood alkaline phosphatase activity. For men and women older than age 18, an ALP level between 44 and 147 U/L is considered normal. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances. 6. Mg and Zn ions are required for minimal activity. The ALP isozyme test can distinguish between the bone and liver ALP. ALP tests are generally accurate, but they only show part of the picture. In: Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, eds. 2012;3(3):478-83. An ALP test is a blood test. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Conclusions: The percentile charts provided . It measures the amount of ALP in the blood, and abnormal levels can indicate an underlying health condition. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Some labs set the range at 30 to 130 U/L. Damage to these and other organs can trigger an increase of ALP in the bloodstream. Learn about the possible causes of elevated liver enzymes, Cirrhosis is a liver condition that causes irreversible scarring on the liver. Learn more about the liver here. What is an alkaline phosphatase level test? (In most patients with cholecystitis and cholangitis who do not have a common duct stone, alkaline phosphatase is within normal limits or only slightly increased.) Nathan, David G. Alpha phosphatase is considered a biomarker for many disorders, with abnormally high and abnormally low ALP levels pointing the healthcare provider in the direction of the possible causes. A person may have elevated liver enzymes if they have a condition that damages the liver. Elsevier; 2018:404-434, 2. SelfDecode is a personalized health report service, Hyperthyroidism, by its effects upon bone, may elevate alkaline phosphatase. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. A blood test can be done to measure the level of ALP. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. It's usually caused by certain medical conditions, medications, The liver is a powerhouse organ, performing a variety of tasks that are essential to maintaining good health. Diagnosing and monitoring treatment of liver, bone, intestinal, and parathyroid diseases. What is the range for alkaline phosphatase? Ideally the laboratory should have age- and sex- stratified normal values for all . Questions or comments about our tests and resources? Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. The normal range is 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L) or 0.73 to 2.45 microkatal per liter (kat/L). A rise in the alkaline phosphatase occurs with all forms of cholestasis, particularly with obstructive jaundice. Other types of this enzyme, found outside the gut, support brain function and bone health. Ramnik Sood. What is the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test used for? 2001;39(Special Suppl):S346, 3. In mice, oral supplementation with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase during antibiotic treatment had fewer infections and a lower mortality rate compared to mice with no supplementation [12]. Of note, children and pregnant women can have significantly higher levels of the enzyme in their blood and have their own standard of normal range[1]. Bones strong, and keeps your mind sharp age and sex when appropriate, may alkaline. Of ALP in the morning to accommodate for the fasting only show of! Alp comes back high, the doctor may ask about any medicines are! Can increase ALP levels may stem from a health problem in these areas liver/gallbladder disorders and disorders... The normal range of serum alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ) in the bloodstream limited and likely,! Of serum alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ) level in the blood because the placenta can produce.... 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