Definition of Alkaline phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase: An enzyme made in the liver, bone, and the placenta and no
rmally present in high concentrations in growing bone and in bile. Alkaline phos
phatase is released into the blood during injury and during such normal activiti
es as bone growth and pregnancy. It is measured in a routine blood test.
Abnormally high blood levels of alkaline phosphatase may indicate disease in bon
e or liver, bile duct obstruction, or certain malignancies. The enzyme is often
elevated in the leukemic cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Abnormally low levels of alkaline phosphatase is a genetic condition called hypo
phosphatasia which results in bone deformities.
The enzyme is termed alkaline phosphatase because it works under alkaline (non-a
cidic) conditions, as opposed to acid phosphatase.
Higher-than-normal ALP levels may indicate:
Pregnancy
Healing bone fracture
Liver diseases
Biliary obstruction
Hepatitis
Bone disease
Paget's disease
Osteoblastic bone cancers
Osteomalacia
Rickets
Skeletal disease
Anemia
Rickets
Leukemia
Thyroid gland infection
Hyperparathyroidism
Chronic alcohol ingestion
Lower-than-normal levels of ALP may indicate:
Protein deficiency
Magnesium deficiency
Too much vitamin D or too little vitamin C
Poor nutrition