Can Diet Improve Alkaline Phosphatase Levels?

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found throughout your body. The exact role of the enzyme isn’t fully understood, but abnormalities in your levels may signal health problems.

While a quick search online may turn up home remedies, there’s no single food or ingredient that can directly change ALP levels. But diet can support the function of the underlying organ — the liver or bones — that produces the enzyme.

If you have concerns about your levels, your doctor is your best resource to identify symptoms of high ALP and tell you what you need to do about it.

What Is Alkaline Phosphatase?

There are millions of chemicals keeping your body in good working order.

Enzymes are chemicals that serve as catalysts, triggering or speeding up reactions in your body, according to MedlinePlus. The suffix “-ase” is used to identify enzymes. This includes a group of enzymes — or isoenzymes — called ALP.

All ALPs break down organic phosphate esters, which is an important process for many bodily functions.

Each group of ALP enzymes plays a specific, critical role, according to StatPearls. For example, bone ALP is a key player in bone mineralization and skeletal development. Liver ALP is involved in the detoxification processes of the liver.

Most of the ALP in your body is found in various organs, including your kidneys, liver, bones, and digestive system. Your blood also contains a certain amount of ALP, which doctors believe primarily comes from your liver and bones.

Getting an ALP Test

Physicians may order an ALP blood test as part of a routine checkup or if they have concerns about liver or bone health. Certain medications and foods may alter the results of your test, so your medication and eating schedule may need to be modified before the test.

Interpreting Your Results

According to Mayo Clinic, typical ALP levels fall between 35 and 129 units per liter, depending on factors like sex and age. Additionally, these numbers are just a general range. Your lab may use a different reference.

If your ALP levels are high, it may indicate there’s something wrong with your liver or bones, according to MedlinePlus. Common conditions associated with elevated ALP include:

• Hepatitis (inflammation in the liver)
• Cirrhosis (scarring in the liver)
• Bile duct blockage
• Paget’s bone disease (causes bones to be weak and brittle)

An elevation in the enzyme may also indicate mononucleosis, Hodgkin lymphoma, heart failure, or a serious infection.

If your ALP is low, it may mean you have a very rare genetic disorder called hypophosphatasia. It disrupts the mineralization of your bones and teeth, says MedlinePlus. However, low ALP may also mean you’re deficient in zinc or magnesium, or are malnourished.

A standard ALP test shows total ALP activity, which combines multiple isoenzymes. Because of this, an elevated or low result on a standard ALP test can’t identify the source of the problem. To do so would require a specific ALP isoenzyme test, says MedlinePlus.

Importantly, certain groups of people may have naturally high levels of ALP and won’t require medical intervention. Children and teenagers may have higher ALP levels because their bones are growing rapidly. Pregnancy can also elevate levels, and birth control pills and other medications can lower them.

Some of the underlying conditions that cause high ALP may require modifications to your diet.

Your liver is responsible for performing many vital bodily functions, from removing waste and toxic substances from your blood to making protein and cholesterol.

If you have hepatitis or cirrhosis, two conditions that cause high ALP, these functions may be compromised. Your doctor may suggest you follow a special diet, according to MedlinePlus.

Because a diet for liver disease requires the right balance of macronutrients to maintain your health and the health of your liver, consult your doctor or a registered dietitian for an individualized diet plan.

Extremely low ALP can be a result of a rare genetic disorder called hypophosphatasia. But more commonly, low ALP can be linked to a nutrient-poor diet.

A zinc or magnesium deficiency may affect your ALP levels, according to StatPearls.

Zinc is needed for the proper functioning of many enzymatic reactions in your body, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also helps support immune health, make protein and DNA, and heal wounds.

Good food sources of zinc include:

• Oysters
• Red meat
• Poultry
• Yogurt
• Pumpkin seeds
• Fortified breakfast cereals
• Almonds
• Oatmeal

Like zinc, your body needs magnesium for the proper functioning of many enzymes in your body, says the NIH. The mineral is also essential for bone health and helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar.

Good food sources of magnesium include:

• Almonds
• Chia seeds
• Spinach
• Potatoes
• Peanuts
• Bread
• Black beans
• Soy milk

While poor intakes of these minerals have been associated with low ALP, malnutrition may affect your levels, too.

If you’re having a difficult time eating a balanced diet, talk to your doctor or consult a registered dietitian for support.