What is Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)?

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a liver enzyme found in the body, which acts as a catalyst within the cell and is a type of protein that is effective in the realization of bodily processes. There are many enzymes in the body. Although the function of enzyme types has been clearly determined in various studies, the exact function of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is not yet known. However, it continues to function as an important enzyme by being located in more than one area in the body.
Alkaline phosphatase or ALP is a hydrolase enzyme. It enables the removal of phosphate groups from a variety of molecules, including nucleotides, proteins and alkaloids. The process of removing phosphate groups is called dephosphorylation. As its name suggests, alkaline phosphatase functions most effectively in alkaline environments.
However, it should also be known that the ALP value is generally related to the liver, bones and kidneys. Although the main source is the liver, alkaline phosphatase is found in the bones, intestine, pancreas and kidneys. In pregnant women, ALP is present in the placenta.

Research shows that ALP contributes to the following processes:

Transport of nutrients and other enzymes in the liver,
Helping bone formation and growth and maintaining the balance between construction and destruction,
Transport of fatty acids, phosphates and calcium in the intestines,
Digesting fats in the intestines,
Regulating cell growth, death and transport during fetal development
Your doctor may sometimes request a blood ALP test to see the general condition of your liver and gallbladder enzymes, or sometimes if he suspects a disease related to your digestive system, liver, bones and kidneys. Alkaline phosphatase value alone is not sufficient to diagnose a disease. If there is a liver-related disease, the following symptoms may be observed:

Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Weight loss for no apparent reason
Tiredness
Weakness
Jaundice (noticeable in the skin and eyes)
Abdominal swelling and pain
Swelling in ankles and legs
Dark urine
Light colored stool (feces)
Frequent itching
In case of a bone-related disease, the following symptoms may be observed:
Pain in bones
Inflammation and arthritis in joints
Bones that are unusually shaped and/or very large
Bone fractures

In case of a bone-related disease, the following symptoms may be observed:

pain in bones

Inflammation and arthritis in joints

Bonesthatareunusuallyshaped and/orverylarge

bonefractures 

 Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Causes of Height?

ALP, which is found mostly in the liver and bones, suggests problems with the liver and bones. In case of liver damage, alkaline phosphatase value increases. Again, bone cell activity causes elevation of alkaline phosphatase. A high ALP value may be due to the following reasons:

Cirrhosis
Hepatitis
Mononucleosis, which causes swelling in the liver
Obstruction in the bile duct (caused by gallstones, bile inflammation or cancer),
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder),

According to research, the following health problems may occur in people with high ALP values:

-Bacterial infection,
-Osteomyelitis (bone inflammation),
-Bile duct damage,
-Decrease in bile flow,
-Overactive parathyroid or thyroid glands,
-Osteomalacia (bone softening),
-Rachitism (the name given to the condition of softening and weakening of bones, which is generally seen in children due to excessive and long-term vitamin D deficiency),
-Paget's disease (a disease that causes bones to become unusually large, weak or very fragile),
-Myeloid metaplasia (a type of cancer that starts in certain cells of the bone marrow),
-Heart failure
-AIDS
-Hodgkin lymphoma (a type of cancer of the lymph tissue that originates from white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system)
-Osteogenic sarcoma (the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents)
-Some cancers
-Bone metastasis (spread of an existing cancer to the bone)
Another reason for high ALP value is malnutrition. Celiac patients who do not comply with dietary restrictions also have high ALP values. Elevated ALP is not always caused by a problem. Alkaline phosphatase may also increase in normal situations. ALP value may be high during pregnancy, growing age, aging and healing of bone fractures. Some medications may also increase ALP levels after use. Especially medications that tire the liver may be the reason for this increase.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Reasons for Miscarriage

The causes of low alkaline phosphatase can be listed as follows:

-Zinc or magnesium deficiency
-Protein deficiency
-Nutritional deficiency
-Underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism
-Pernicious anemia (a condition in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it does not have enough vitamin B12)
-Hypophosphataemia (a genetic disorder affecting bones and teeth)
-Wilson disease (it is a rare hereditary disease that occurs as a result of copper accumulation in the liver, brain and other vital organs.) Some medications and birth control drugs may also be responsible for low ALP value.
ALP values ​​outside the reference values ​​must be evaluated by a doctor.
These values ​​do not always indicate a health problem.
Your doctor considers how high or low the ALP value is.
In addition, it evaluates your general health condition, taking into account different symptoms and other tests. He/she may order different tests to determine ALP height. Because ALP is a type of enzyme found in different parts of the body, it is important to determine which organ of the body this elevation is related to.