|  | Public Health Safety | Medical Research

Role of Alkaline Phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase, also known as ALP, is an enzyme that best performs in an alkaline environment. The enzyme in its normal range is at 20 to 140 IU/L (international units over liters).

  1. Role of Removing Phosphates

    • Alkaline phosphatase is important for the removal of phosphate groups. Removal of phosphate groups helps facilitate metabolism in the body.

    Elevated Levels

    • Elevated levels are found in the bone, the liver, the kidneys, bile and the placenta, where the process of metabolism most often occur, but normal levels are present throughout the body.

    Low or Absent Level Effects

    • The absence of ALP usually means an infection will continue or a cell will mutate within the body. Cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Low levels of alkaline phosphatase lead to unwanted abnormalities and illnesses, such as autosomal recessive disease, leukemias, anemias and malnutrition.

    High Level Signs

    • High levels of ALP indicate a healing process within the body. Sometimes ALP, as in a chronic condition such as gallstone disease, are no longer needed and turn into waste in the blood; even so, waste ALP is still a sign of a healing process.

    Normal Standards Vary

    • High levels of ALP in one person may not be the same standard in another person. Each person has his own normal range of ALP.

Medical Research - Related Articles