A test for levels of alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, in your blood is performed when your health care provider wants to assess the health of your liver or bone growth. ALP is an enzyme produced by all tissues in the body, but is particularly high in...
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that secretes digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct. Digestive enzymes mix with bile from the gallbladder to digest food. Acute pancreatitis is most often caused by gallstones that...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found throughout the body. However, it tends to be most concentrated in the liver, the bile ducts, bones and placenta. Diseases that damage and destroy the cells of these organs lead to the release of alkaline...
You might panic if you have high levels of alkaline phosphatase as this can sometimes indicate liver cancer or other serious illness. Rest assured, however, that high levels often correlate with many less serious conditions, including pregnancy...
A category of enzymes produced mainly in the liver and bones, alkaline phosphatase enzymes are responsible for splitting off the acidic mineral phosphorus, creating an alkaline pH balance. According to Jeffrey E. Kaslow on Dr. Kaslow.com, high...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in all of your tissues. It is produced in relatively large amounts by your liver, bones, intestine and kidneys, and by the placenta during pregnancy. Different tissues synthesize slightly different forms --...
The U.S. Renal Data System reports that 527,283 U.S. residents were treated for renal failure in 2007. The primary causes of renal failure were diabetes, hypertension, glomerular nephritis, cystic kidney disease and urological disease. Alkaline...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme made by the liver and bone. Measuring the enzyme to monitor liver function can provide information about bone tumors and disease. High alkaline phosphatase levels can indicate gallstones, hepatitis,...
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener commonly found in diet sodas and other foods. This sweetener is approximately 200-times sweeter than table sugar. Since other artificial sweeteners such as saccharin created so much controversy, scientists...
Alkaline phosphatase is a protein found in all areas of the body. It is particularly prominent in the liver and bones. Sometimes abbreviated AP or alk phos, alkaline phosphatase functions as an enzyme. That means it is important in certain...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that can be found in many of the body's tissues, but its highest concentration is inside bone and liver cells and in the bile ducts. It is a useful test to evaluate childhood liver and bone conditions, especially...
Although only around 32,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer develop each year, the cancer has a deadly track record, with a five-year survival rate of only 4 percent, according to the Robert Freelove, M.D. of the University of Kansas. At the time...
Elevated alkaline phosphatase is associated with numerous signs and symptoms. According to Dr. Dicken Weatherby, a naturopathic physician and author of the textbook "Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis," alkaline phosphatase is a group of isoenzymes...
Abnormal lab results can cause you significant stress. An elevated level of alkaline phosphatase can occur in some bone conditions because this enzyme is a marker of bone health. You should discuss your elevated alkaline phosphatase level with...
The liver is a large organ located in the upper abdomen that helps remove waste products from your body, stores nutrients, produces bile for digestion and breaks down proteins. A healthy liver normally produces certain enzymes that aid in the...
Gas is a normal byproduct of the digestive process. However, persistent gas and bloating, especially after eating certain foods, could be a sign of a food allergy or intolerance. For example, if you experience frequent stomach bloating after...
Liver cirrhosis can be the result of certain viral infections (such as the hepatitis viruses) or due to the ingestion of toxins (including large amounts of alcohol). When the liver becomes heavily damaged, it can stop making certain proteins,...
Phosphatase is an enzyme that removes a phosphate group from a protein previously activated by a kinase enzyme. There are two types of phosphatase enzymes, alkaline and acid. Doctors can test for both of these phosphatase enzymes in your body to...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme present in various tissues of the body. It is found mostly in the bones and in the liver, although it can also be found in the kidneys, the placenta of pregnant women, and the intestine. In blood work, it can be...