What is Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)? Low and High Causes

In cases where various biochemical substances in the body rise or fall beyond their normal values; Additional steps are taken in diagnosis and treatment by suspecting various health problems. Here one of these important parameters is alkaline phosphatase.

What is Alkaline Phosphatase?

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that is intensely produced in our body, especially in the skeletal system and gastrointestinal tract. It plays a role in the metabolism processes of phosphorus ions in bone tissue and biliary tract in cases where the cell environment is alkaline. In this respect, the amount of alkaline phosphatase enzyme in the body is closely related to the metabolic rate of bone and gastrointestinal tissues. Again, in diseases of these regions, the amount of alkaline phosphatase in the blood may increase in parallel with tissue destruction.

What is the Normal Value Range for Alkaline Phosphatase?

Alkaline phosphatase level is determined by blood test. In the measurement made from the blood of a healthy individual, the amount of alkaline phosphatase is calculated as 20 – 140 IU/L. When talking about ALP height in measurements calculated over 140; Rarely, when it is calculated below 20, low ALP is detected.

In addition, the normal value of ALP may vary with age. While the normal value range is higher in growing children, the normal value range decreases as bone metabolism slows down with advanced age. Likewise, in the case of pregnancy, the normal range of ALP values ​​varies. For all these reasons, changes in the amount of ALP must be evaluated by a specialist physician.

What are the Causes of High Alkaline Phosphatase?

The amount of ALP in the blood increases in various conditions and health problems and this can be shown in the tests. . The situations in which ALP increases can be summarized as follows:

• Growth – development: Slight elevations in ALP can be seen as bone metabolism increases during the periods when children's growth rate is high.
• Pregnancy: Placenta Since it is one of the tissues producing ALP, a high amount of ALP can be detected in a healthy individual during pregnancy. k increases.
• Bone diseases: In diseases that directly target bones and bone metabolism, such as Paget's disease, ALP is excessively elevated.
• Gallbladder stone: In cases where the gallbladder or bile ducts develop stones and are blocked by stones Serum ALP level increases.
• Liver diseases: An increase in the amount of ALP is observed in serious diseases of the liver such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.
• Vitamin D deficiency: Insufficient vitamin D intake in children during growth period results in rickets and bone growth seriously adversely affected. Vitamin D deficiency in adulthood results in osteomalacia. The result is a decrease in the strength and durability of the bones. In both cases, the serum ALP level increases.
• Infections: The amount of ALP increases in direct infections of bone tissues or biliary tract. In addition, ALP may be slightly elevated in viral infections such as mononucleosis.
• Bone tumors: An increase in the amount of ALP occurs in the tumors of the bone tissue itself or when the spread of various cancers to the bone occurs.
• Diseases of the parathyroid glands: Especially in case of intense hormone release from the parathyroid gland, bone metabolism accelerates and increases the amount of ALP. failure: In cases where the heart cannot pump adequately, the amount of ALP may increase as the internal organs are adversely affected.

  What are the Symptoms Associated with High Alkaline Phosphatase?

  Elevated ALP is often found incidentally during routine blood tests. In this sense, high ALP rarely causes a complaint. However, since the amount of ALP increases in various health conditions, some complaints may be accompanied by high ALP. These conditions can be listed as follows:
  

  • Bone or abdominal pain,
  • Nausea - vomiting,
  • Weakness - fatigue,
  • Constipation ,
  • Indigestion,
  • Itching,
  • Jaundice,
  • Bone deformities,
  • Joint movements limitation,
  • Weight loss.

  What are the Causes of Low Alkaline Phosphatase?

  Low levels of alkaline phosphatase may occur as well as high. Although low ALP is very rare, the following situations come to mind when it occurs:

• Vitamin deficiencies: Decreases in the amount of ALP can be detected in vitamin C, folic acid and vitamin B6 deficiencies caused by various reasons.
• Mineral deficiencies: Not enough minerals such as phosphorus and zinc The amount of ALP may also decrease in cases where it is not taken. It is especially seen in conditions that impair the function of the intestinal system, such as celiac disease.

What to Do in High or Low Alkaline Phosphatase?

Deteriorations in alkaline phosphatase value alone do not diagnose a disease. It is not enough to put In this sense, a specialist physician's evaluation decides whether there is any underlying health problem. Therefore, the changes in different biochemical parameters together with the elevation of alkaline phosphatase are examined, the diagnosis is confirmed with additional imaging tests when necessary, and the treatment is planned according to the diagnosis. Since deterioration will occur, ALP should be evaluated together with these parameters. In this sense, besides ALP, values ​​such as AST, ALT, GGT and albumin are often checked. Likewise, additional imaging studies such as abdominal ultrasonography are very valuable in these diseases. methods such as tomography are used.

Another important issue is the age of the patient. ALP in growing children change and the amount of ALP in adulthood may indicate different health conditions.

While high ALP levels in children may be completely healthy due to growth and development; the same value may suggest a disease in an adult. In this sense, it is very important that the evaluation is made by a specialist physician.

In addition to these, what people can do against health problems that may cause a change in the amount of ALP can be summarized as follows.

Adequate and balanced diet habits should be acquired. . A diet rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B6, calcium, phosphorus and zinc is beneficial for bone and gastrointestinal system health. is exposure to light. In order to increase the amount of vitamin D produced in our skin, it is useful to be exposed to sunlight for about 30 minutes by taking precautions to protect it from the harmful effects of sunlight. Mushroom varieties are also rich in vitamin D. Except those; Eggs, cow's milk, tofu or cereals also contain vitamin D. In case of vitamin D deficiencies that cannot be corrected with nutrition, supplements can be used.

One of the indispensable habits for bone health and body metabolism is regular exercise. Exercising in accordance with age and body structure on certain days of the week is extremely important for maintaining health.

Harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption should be stopped. As they negatively affect bone and gastrointestinal metabolism; They are also important risk factors in the development of various serious diseases, especially cancer.

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