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Reducing Alkaline Phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, are enzymes that are primarily made in the liver and in bones, though some are also made in the kidneys and intestines. Additionally, a pregnant woman's placenta will also manufacture ALP for the duration of the pregnancy.

The liver makes the largest amount of ALP, and when too much ALP is present in the blood, bone disease, rapid bone growth during puberty, damaged liver cells and a change in how much calcium is in the blood can all occur.

As the name suggests, alkaline phosphatase is pure alkaline, with a pH of 10.

  1. What Causes High ALP Levels?

    • A high level of ALP can signify blocked bile ducts in a person with liver disease. Individuals who have cancer will often see a spike in ALP levels if the cancer has spread to the liver or to the bones. Certain liver and bone disorders will also cause high ALP levels.

      If an individual has high ALP levels and his physician does not know why, additional tests may be ordered. It is important to track down the cause of the high levels, as the underlying cause may be serious, particularly if it is liver damage or cancer.

    Reducing Levels of Alkaline Phosphatase

    • Understand that ALP levels in healthy individuals can fluctuate approximately 6 percent from one week to the next. Also, children have up to three times the normal limit of ALP; pregnant women have up to two times the normal limit. Smokers generally have 10 percent more ALP in their bodies than non-smokers, and African Americans have up to 15 percent more than Caucasians. Bone fractures can double ALP levels.

      Elevated levels of ALP should first be checked by a physician to see if the cause can be determined. High levels of ALP can indicate serious conditions that should not be overlooked.

      Certain medications can increase the amount of ALP in the body. Anabolic steroids, captopril, flutamide, gold salts, phenothiazines, phenytoin and valproic acid represent just a sampling of the medications reported to raise the amount of ALP in a person's body.

      According to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, an elevated ALP level may be caused by anemia, bile duct obstruction, a healing fracture or bone disease, hepatitis, leukemia, rickets, or other serious disorders. Treating these conditions would be necessary to lower ALP levels and prevent other problems.

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