Contents:
- Medical Video: Introduction to liver function tests
- What causes high alkaline phosphatase?
- High alkaline phosphatase is not always a sign of disease
- Food intake can also increase alkaline phosphate
- What if high alkaline phosphate? What treatment is done?
Medical Video: Introduction to liver function tests
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that is present in all body tissues. Although many do not know, the high amount of alkaline phosphate can actually indicate a certain health disorder. So, what is the cause of high alkaline phosphate? How do you normalize it again?
What causes high alkaline phosphatase?
Alkaline phosphate is an enzyme that plays an important role in processing proteins so that the body can more easily be digested. This enzyme is found in almost all organs of the body, but is most commonly found in the liver and bones.
High levels of alkaline phosphate are often associated with liver function disorders, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholecystitis, gallstones, and liver cancer.
However, there are actually many other causes that make your alkaline phosphatase test soar, such as parathyroid gland disorders and bone health disorders (cricket, osteomalacia, bone cancer, and vitamin D deficiency)
In some cases, high levels of this enzyme can indicate the condition of heart failure, kidney cancer, or other types of cancer.
High alkaline phosphatase is not always a sign of disease
Children and adolescents tend to have higher levels of alkaline phosphatase than adults. This is because children and adolescents are still experiencing bone growth. Usually, this enzyme will be quite high in number during times of growth.
Pregnancy can also increase levels of this enzyme in the body. In pregnant women, alkaline phosphate is found in the placenta.
Food intake can also increase alkaline phosphate
Some foods that can increase alkaline phosphate are:
- Foods that contain high zinc, such as sea shells, beef, chicken, milk, and other dairy products.
- Food sources of phosphorus, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, salmon, chicken, and meat.
- B12-rich foods, such as crabs, salmon, eggs, chicken and beef.
- High-fat foods and oils, for example coconut oil and corn oil.
Even so, all these foods are not the main cause of the high amount of alkaline phosphatase in the body and have little effect.
To find out more clearly what causes your amount of alkaline phosphate to be high, you should ask and consult a doctor. Usually, the doctor will recommend further examination.
What if high alkaline phosphate? What treatment is done?
Treatment will be adjusted to the cause of high alkaline phosphatase. If indeed due to impaired liver function, the doctor will treat the disorder. However, you can also change your diet pattern so that the alkaline phosphatase levels improve again.
Do not forget to continue to adopt a healthy lifestyle, from regular exercise to leaving all bad habits that can interfere with your health. We recommend that you keep eating healthy foods. If you are confused about what diet is right, consult your doctor and nutritionist.
