Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in the liver, digestive system, kidneys and bones. If it is high it can indicate various health problems, including liver injury, liver disease, bone disease or bile duct obstruction. In most cases it is a temporary and minor disorder. Children and adolescents, in particular, may have higher values than adults. It is possible to reduce the level of alkaline phosphatase through a combination of medications, dietary changes and lifestyle modifications. See your doctor if you need to undergo further diagnostic tests.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Managing Drugs and Health Problems
Step 1. Watch for diseases or disorders that increase alkaline phosphatase
Generally, when it is high, it indicates a specific condition. So, to lower the values, you will have to treat the underlying pathology. The rise in levels can be caused by various ailments, such as vitamin D deficiency and bone disease.
For example, if your doctor identifies that it is due to a liver condition, he or she will prescribe a drug to manage it. The values will normalize on their own once you go through the therapy
Step 2. Find out if the medications you are taking are causing this imbalance
Among the side effects, some medicines raise the levels of alkaline phosphatase. Your doctor will likely ask you to stop one for a set period of time (a week, for example) and repeat the blood tests. If the values have not decreased, you may need to stop taking another drug for a week to see if anything changes. Among the drugs that can increase the values of this enzyme consider:
- Birth control pills and hormonal drugs.
- Antidepressants and anti-inflammatories.
- Steroid and opioid drugs.
Step 3. Stop drug therapies when necessary
In some cases, you may not be able to completely stop taking a drug. If your doctor has identified that a particular molecule is increasing alkaline phosphatase levels, work with him to find another one that is equally effective. It is not uncommon for the dosage of many drugs to be gradually reduced over time. A sudden interruption, in fact, could cause unwanted side effects.
- For example, if the alkaline phosphatase alteration is due to the antidepressant you are taking, ask your doctor if he or she can prescribe a different one.
- On the other hand, he may advise you to discontinue the use of steroid and opioid medications altogether. If you are taking these kinds of pain management medications, ask them for a safe alternative that does not affect your alkaline phosphatase values.
- Whether you need to stop taking a drug as a temporary or permanent measure, be sure to do so under the supervision of your doctor.
Part 2 of 3: Making Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Eliminate foods that are high in zinc
Zinc is a structural element of alkaline phosphatase. Consequently, removing zinc-rich foods from your diet will automatically affect the amount of this enzyme in the body. When shopping, read the nutrition table on the product packaging if you don't know how much zinc they contain. Dishes high in this mineral include:
- Lamb and mutton.
- Beef and pumpkin seeds.
- Oysters and spinach.
- Adult women should not consume more than 8 mg of zinc per day, while for adult men the amount should not exceed 11 mg per day.
Step 2. Eat foods rich in copper
Copper is an important element that regulates enzymatic values within the body. It has been shown to help reduce alkaline phosphatase when it is high. Foods rich in copper are:
- Sunflower seeds and almonds.
- Lentils and asparagus.
- Dried apricots and dark chocolate.
- After the age of 19 it is not recommended to consume more than 10 mg of copper per day.
Step 3. Include foods that help regulate enzyme levels into your diet
Some foods promote a healthy alkaline phosphatase balance. Contact your doctor if you have any dietary concerns or restrictions, or if you would like more information on substances that can help you control the alkaline phosphatase values in your body. Eat foods that help regulate enzyme levels and that contain low levels of this enzyme, including:
- Milk and dairy products, eggs, yogurt and cheese.
- Fish, including herring, tuna and mackerel.
- Alfalfa and mushrooms.
Step 4. Get more sun
Since vitamin D deficiency is one of the main causes of high alkaline phosphatase, your doctor will probably advise you to find a way to increase the levels of this vitamin. When the skin is exposed to the sun's rays, the body produces vitamin D. So, try to spend at least 20 minutes in the sun every day to lower the amount of this enzyme in the body.
- Try going to the pool a couple of times a week or sunbathing on the beach or lawn. Alternatively, wear a short-sleeved shirt and take a half-hour walk in the fresh air when the sun is shining.
- It's always a good idea to wear sunscreen when you're in direct sunlight. Sunscreen will not interfere with the body's production of vitamin D.
- If you live in an area where exposure to sunlight is inadvisable (or if it's winter), your doctor may suggest you take a vitamin D supplement.
Step 5. Exercise during the week
A healthy lifestyle, combined with regular exercise, will help you prevent or alleviate the pathologies that cause high alkaline phosphatase values.
- At first, you might go for a 30-minute walk (or jog) a day. Also consider joining a gym, taking a spinning class, or taking yoga classes.
- Disorders that promote the increase of this enzyme, but which can improve with exercise include fatty liver and diseases related to inflammation of the liver and obstruction of the biliary tract.
Step 6. Personalize your workout to suit your physical abilities
Many times the cause of high alkaline phosphatase is a serious illness, including diabetes, heart disease, bone disease, or high blood pressure. Patients may not be physically capable of training every day in the gym or sustaining heavy exercise. Since it is important to move, customize the gymnastics according to your physical abilities.
- For tips on exercises you can practice, consult your doctor. It will also be able to tell you if your body is healthy enough to practice a particular type of movement.
- In some cases, she may recommend that you see a physical therapist.
Part 3 of 3: Diagnosing High Alkaline Phosphatase and the Underlying Disease
Step 1. Report any pain or weakness in your bones to your doctor
At the base of this enzymatic imbalance there are many causes linked to bone problems. Symptoms include persistent bone pain or multiple fractures. Disorders that affect these organs and can promote high alkaline phosphatase include:
- Osteomalacia: a disease that causes the bones to weaken.
- Renal osteodystrophy: a dysfunction characterized by a deficiency of minerals.
- Malignant bone tumors.
Step 2. Get blood tests to measure transaminases
The lab nurse will use a syringe to draw a small amount of blood from the arm, which will be analyzed for enzyme values. This way the doctor will be able to find out if the alkaline phosphatase is high.
- Ask your doctor if you need to prepare for liver function tests. It will likely tell you to avoid certain foods or medications. You will have to wait a few days before withdrawing the results, perhaps even a week.
- Physical symptoms that indicate a need for liver screening include severe abdominal pain, dark urine or bloody stools, frequent nausea or vomiting, yellow skin and eyes.
Step 3. Ask your doctor if you need to undergo cancer screening
If the high alkaline phosphatase is not related to a bone health problem or liver disease, it could be caused by a form of cancer. The doctor is able to detect it through blood tests. In most cases, however, you will need to undergo a biopsy to determine if a malignancy has developed. Cancers that can increase the values of this enzyme include:
- Breast or colon cancer.
- Lung or pancreatic cancer.
- Lymphoma (cancer of lymphoid cells) or leukemia (cancer of stem cells that reside in the bone marrow).
Advice
- Normal values of alkaline phosphatase in adults are between 44 and 147 U / l (units per liter).
- In some cases, this enzyme can increase in children who have growth spurts and in pregnant women.
