At some point in our lives, most of us have gone to the doctor’s office, had blood drawn for lab testing, and anxiously awaited the results. One of these common lab tests evaluates the levels of a compound known as alkaline phosphatase.
Today we’re going to explore exactly what role alkaline phosphatase plays in our bodies, what it means if your levels are too low, and most importantly – exactly what you can do to help restore your alkaline phosphatase levels back to normal. Let’s dive in.
Alkaline phosphatase is a type of molecule known as an enzyme – a type of protein that accelerates chemical reactions within your body.1 Alkaline phosphatase can be found scattered throughout your body but is primarily concentrated in your liver, kidneys, bones, digestive tract, and in the placenta in pregnant women.
Researchers are still working to fully understand the exact functions of alkaline phosphatase, but we do know that this enzyme plays an important role in things like:2,3
- Bone calcification and mineralization
- Cellular growth and movement
- Digestion and gut microbiome balance
- The breakdown and distribution of fats and certain vitamins
While we may not fully understand how alkaline phosphatase functions in the body, we do know that abnormal levels can indicate an underlying problem.
What Are Normal Alkaline Phosphatase Levels?
What’s classified as a normal range for alkaline phosphatase can vary slightly from lab to lab. Some labs set the normal range from 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L), while others use the range of 30 to 120 IU/L.4
Elevated alkaline phosphatase levels can indicate a number of underlying issues that range in severity from minimal to quite serious. High alkaline phosphatase has been linked to:5,6
- Liver issues like cirrhosis, hepatitis, or another underlying infection
- Blocked bile ducts
- Cancer
- Overactive thyroid or parathyroid
Elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase are much more common than low levels of this enzyme. But low levels can also be indicative of an underlying problem.
Should I Be Concerned If My Alkaline Phosphatase Is Low?
Having an alkaline phosphatase level that falls out of the normal range – either too high or too low – doesn’t always mean there is cause for concern. There are a number of factors that can impact your alkaline phosphatase levels such as:7
- Some medications (like birth control pills)
- Your dietary habits
- Whether or not you’re pregnant
- Your age – children and teenagers often have higher levels because their bones are still growing
- Issues with your immune system
So if your alkaline phosphatase levels are low or falling outside the normal range, it’s important to look at the bigger picture and determine if there are other factors that may be influencing your results. If you do have abnormal levels, your doctor will likely run other diagnostic tests and conduct a thorough assessment to get a better picture of your health.
With that being said, low alkaline phosphatase levels can be a clue that there’s some imbalance that may need to be addressed.
Causes of Low Alkaline Phosphatase
Low alkaline phosphatase levels typically indicate one or more of the following underlying issues:8,9
- Malnutrition – typically a protein deficiency
- Zinc deficiency
- Magnesium deficiency
- Anemia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Hypothyroidism – or an underperforming thyroid
- Excessive supplementation of vitamin D
Occasionally, low alkaline phosphatase levels can indicate rare genetic conditions like:8,9
- Hypophosphatasia – a genetic disorder that impairs bone growth and mineralization
- Wilson disease – a genetic disorder that causes the accumulation of copper in the liver and other organs
The treatment for rare genetic conditions associated with low alkaline phosphatase levels requires a unique and in-depth treatment path. However, the good news is, addressing the more common causes of low alkaline phosphatase can be much more straightforward.
How to Increase Alkaline Phosphatase
If your alkaline phosphatase levels are below normal, there are several lifestyle factors you can tweak to help restore your levels back to a healthy baseline. Here’s what I recommend:
Evaluate for Underlying Digestive Issues
First and foremost, it’s crucial to find out if you have an underlying disruption in your ability to break down and absorb nutrients that may be causing malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Celiac disease and other inflammatory bowel conditions are notorious for hindering nutrient absorption and can be a major contributing factor to low alkaline phosphatase levels.
If you’re unfamiliar with exactly what Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel conditions are, I encourage you to head over and read my article Crohn’s vs. Ulcerative Colitis vs. Celiac: A Fascinating Look at Their Differences. And if you’re concerned that you may have an undiagnosed digestive problem, I encourage you to seek out the guidance of an experienced Functional Medicine Practitioner to help you pinpoint and treat the root of the problem.
Keep Your Gut Happy and Healthy
Even if you don’t have an underlying inflammatory bowel condition, if your gut is inflamed and not running on all cylinders it can hinder your ability to properly absorb nutrients. So giving your tummy the support it needs to function properly is important. Here’s what I suggest:
- Incorporate a daily probiotic to regularly reinoculate your gut with friendly beneficial bacteria.
- Add in some gut-healing supplements like Collagen Boost and Gut Immune to bolster the integrity of your gut lining and enhance nutrient absorption.
- Get plenty of fiber (like that found in Bind Aid) to ensure you’re having regular bowel movements.
Equally as important as keeping your gut healthy, is ensuring you have plenty of nutrients to correct any imbalances.
Prioritize A Nutrient-Dense, Well-Rounded Diet
Getting plenty of nutrients – especially protein, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B – is crucial when it comes to restoring healthy alkaline phosphatase levels. Focus on building the majority of your meals around:
- High-quality protein: When possible, opt for higher-quality animal products like grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised pork or chicken, and/or wild-harvested game. Or if you don’t prefer animal-sourced protein, you can add in a tasty daily protein shake with my Plant Protein Complete formula that’s available in both chocolate and vanilla.
- Healthy fats: Like olive oil, avocado, fattier cuts of meat, nuts, and grass-fed butter or ghee.
- A wide variety of vegetables and fruits: Try to incorporate fresh fruits and veggies into every meal and aim to “eat the rainbow” by mixing in a variety of different and tasty foods. If you need help coming up with ways to incorporate more fruits and veggies, head over and check out my library of delicious and healthy recipes right here.
- Filtered water: Ensure that the water you drink is pure and free of harmful toxins and contaminants. Investing in a quality water-purification system like Clearly Filtered or Berkey Water Filters is an easy way to ensure you’re getting pure clean water.
Eating a nutrient-dense, well-rounded diet is the foundation of restoring any nutrient deficiencies you might have. But sometimes we can all use a little extra boost in the form of some strategic supplementation.
Incorporate Supplements
If you have low alkaline phosphatase levels, chances are you have some sort of nutrient deficiency. Supplements are a simple and powerful way to get a concentrated dose of nutrients to help your body “catch up” a little faster. With low alkaline phosphatase levels, you’ll likely want to incorporate:
- Magnesium
- Mineral Essentials (to restore a multitude of minerals)
- Thyroid Boost (to support your thyroid)
- Vitamin B Complex
- Zinc
Adding in a handful of supplements can significantly speed up your ability to bounce back and restore your alkaline phosphatase levels back to normal.
So, How Worried Should I Be About Low Alkaline Phosphatase?
It’s possible that we may begin seeing more and more cases of low alkaline phosphatase levels . Thanks to our modern agricultural practices, cultural dietary habits, and fast-paced lifestyles, we live in a world where it’s easy to find a surplus of calories while still having a deficiency in true nutrition.
So if you’ve gotten lab results that show you have low alkaline phosphatase levels, the first step is to work with an experienced doctor (ideally one who specializes in Functional Medicine) to help you rule out any serious underlying issues. From there, the good news is, some simple lifestyle tweaks can have a monumental impact on reversing any imbalances you may have.
When it comes to your health, you are in the driver’s seat and have the power to transform your well-being. If you enjoyed this article and are looking for more ways to step into your power and optimize your health, I’ve got hundreds of articles on my blog to help you do just that. And if you want to take it even deeper, you can sign up for my weekly newsletter by entering your name and email address in the form below.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Were you surprised to learn about some of the underlying causes of low alkaline phosphatase (AP)? Have you ever been diagnosed with low AP? And if so, how did you correct it? Leave your questions and thoughts in the comments below!
References:
- Enzyme (genome.gov)
- Alkaline Phosphatase: An Overview (nih.gov)
- Alkaline Phosphatase – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): What It Is, Causes & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)
- ALP – blood test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Alkaline Phosphatase: MedlinePlus Medical Test
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): What It Is, Causes & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): What It Is, Causes & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)
- Low Alkaline Phosphatase Symptoms, Causes & Meaning – SelfDecode Labs
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician. Please review references sited at end of article for scientific support of any claims made.