Normal Values:

The normal value is 20 to 140 IU/L (international units per liter)

Adults have lower levels of ALP than children. Bones that are still growing produce higher levels of ALP. During some growth spurts, levels can be as high as 500 IU/L. For this reason, the test is usually not done in children, and abnormal results refer to adults.

The isoenzyme test results can reveal whether the increase is in "bone" ALP or "liver" ALP.

What abnormal results mean:

Higher-than-normal ALP levels may indicate:

• Pregnancy
• Healing bone fracture
• Liver diseases
• Biliary obstruction
• Hepatitis
• Bone disease
• Paget's disease
• Osteoblastic bone cancers
• Osteomalacia
• Rickets
• Skeletal disease
• Anemia
• Rickets
• Leukemia
• Thyroid gland infection
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Chronic alcohol ingestion

Lower-than-normal levels of ALP may indicate:

• Protein deficiency
• Magnesium deficiency
• Too much vitamin D or too little vitamin C
• Poor nutrition