Abnormal blood work - low phosphorous - and an endo who listened!

[pamojja]

Searched on my drive for my old labtestanalyzer notes (2017-18?). Actually considers quite low as optimal:

ALP​

Also known as:
Alkaline phosphatase

The total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test is done to determine all types of ALP in the blood to detect bone and liver disorders.

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in all tissues in the human body, but is mostly concentrated in the bones, kidneys, liver, intestines, and placenta. It exists in different forms,depending on where it originates [R].

Its major function is to protect your intestinal tract against bacteria, aid in digestion, breakdown fats and some B vitamins, and promote bone formation [R].

The correct balance of ALP is required for healthy functioning, excess or insufficient levels of this enzyme can lead to a broad range of diseases [R]

When the liver is not functioning properly, ALP is released into the bloodstream. Additionally, any condition that affects bone growth or causes the increased activity of bone cells canincrease ALP levels in the blood. For this reason, an ALP level test is commonly used to help diagnose liver/gallbladder disorders and bone disorders [R].

ALP levels also vary with age and gender, with levels higher in children and pregnant women [R].

Higher ALP levels can occur in people with blood group B or blood group O [R].

Range​

U/L

Low < 29.99

Optimal 30 - 80

Supra-optimal 80.01 - 130

High > 130.01

Optimal​

Your ALP level is optimal!

Based on this marker, you are able to metabolize and absorb the proper nutrients from the food you eat and have strong healthy bones.

ALP in this range is linked to the lowest risk of all-cause mortality [R, R, R, R].

Low​

Your ALP levels are below normal.

Low ALP can be caused by:

 Malnutrition (protein/calorie deficiency) [R]

 Magnesium and/or zinc deficiency [R]

 Excess vitamin D intake [R]

 Heart surgery (in men) [R]

 Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) [R]

 Anemia (that can be related to vitamin B12 deficiency)[R]

 Excess cortisol levels (Cushing’s syndrome) [R]

 Copper buildup in the organs (Wilson’s disease) [R]

 Hypophosphatasia (a genetic disorder that causes defective bone mineralization) [R, R]

 Achondroplasia (a type of dwarfism), and cretinism (a condition with severely stunted growth)[R]


Drugs can also cause low ALP levels:

 Cinacalcet (drug that lowers calcium in the blood) [R]

 Oral contraceptives [R]

 Hormone replacement therapy [R]


Depending on the cause of the low ALP levels, you may experience symptoms like:

 Headache, breathlessness, and fatigue (if you have B12 deficiency and anemia) [R]

 Weight gain, muscle weakness, and dry skin (if you have hypothyroidism) [R]


Seek medical attention for any underlying condition!


If the low ALP levels are due to a nutritional deficiency, correct the underlying nutritive cause. Eat more foods rich in:

 Protein, such as dairy products, meat, poultry, beans, eggs, fish, and nuts and seeds [R]

 B vitamins, such as meat, fish, leafy vegetables, beans, grains, dairy products, and eggs [R, R]

 Zinc, such as meat and poultry, cereals and cereal products, and milk products [R]

 Magnesium, such as green leafy vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts [R]

Excess vitamin D in your body can cause low ALP levels. Determine the cause and consult with your physician [R].

If your medications are likely to lower ALP levels, discuss alternative options with your doctor [R].

Get your thyroid hormones checked [R].

Moderate to intensive exercise can transiently increase ALP levels [R, R].


Supplements that can help:

 Protein [R]

 Vitamin B12 (if deficient) [R]

 Magnesium (if deficient) [R]

 Zinc (if deficient) [R]

 

[linusbert]

Mary did you try cheese too? 100g Emmentaler have like 100% calcium and phosphat , 700mg of phosphat. thats 100%.

 

[Mary]

Thanks for the ALP info @pamojja - I've been hypothyroid for over 20 years so that might be the cause of my low ALP . . . I take desiccated thyroid and my TSH and other levels are monitored so it seems to be under control.

 

[Mary]

Mary did you try cheese too? 100g Emmentaler have like 100% calcium and phosphat , 700mg of phosphat. thats 100%.

Hi @linusbert - I love cheese, one of my favorite foods! And high in calories. I'm trying to lose 7 pounds (well actually was going for 10 or so but I've lost maybe 3?) so I have to watch everything that I put in my mouth. And even if I wasn't trying to lose some weight, I'd still have to watch every bite I take because I gain weight at the drop of a hat because I am so sedentary. If I were to have dessert one night, it would take me about a week to drop the weight from that one dessert, if I was careful about what I ate.

So for breakfast I usually have about 250 calories - maybe a protein bar, sometimes two soft-boiled eggs (eggs always fill me up) and no toast (yeah, I love bread but oh well!) and then some protein and vegies for lunch, and more protein and more vegies for dinner. So sometimes I have cheese as my protein for lunch but not every day. 100 grams of cheese is about 3.5 ounces or 345 calories, so calorie wise it's something I don't eat every day.

Also, I don't seem to get enough nutrients from food. Even if I were able to eat enough cheese daily (and not gain weight), I still think I'd have to supplement with phosphorous. I think ME/CFS causes malnutrition, though many of us look healthy. I think this is why so many of us on PR have a refeeding syndrome reaction when starting methylfolate or methylcobalamin, (and thiamine, at least for me).

My theory is we have trouble getting nutrients into our cells as part of ME/CFS. I have to take high doses of B12, never get enough from food. I take high doses of most nutrients in supplement form even though I almost never eat junk food. And no processed food because I react badly to most additives. So I eat well, though not enough for an active healthy person but I'm not an active healthy person.

When I first suspected low phosphorous several years ago when I started taking B1, I drank 2 or 3 glasses of kefir and it caused that horrible fatigue to go away. I just looked this up and that was close to 300 - 500 calories -no way could I eat that many extra calories daily without putting on a lot of weight.

I just think something is not working right in my body - brilliant deduction, right? which is causing the loss of phosphorous, and potassium for that matter, which is another story.

I'm going to do another thread about potassium because my doctor wants me to take spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic and I have a lot of questions about that . . .

 

[linusbert]

Hi @linusbert - I love cheese, one of my favorite foods! And high in calories. I'm trying to lose 7 pounds (well actually was going for 10 or so but I've lost maybe 3?) so I have to watch everything that I put in my mouth. And even if I wasn't trying to lose some weight, I'd still have to watch every bite I take because I gain weight at the drop of a hat because I am so sedentary. If I were to have dessert one night, it would take me about a week to drop the weight from that one dessert, if I was careful about what I ate.

i eat basically bread + cheese all day, and i lost like 20kg the last 2 years (44lb), ultra sedentary (sofa all day except nights where i am in bed, and like 30 minutes a day moving around in apartment), lost fat, gained muscles. dont know how i did that. but i eat every 2 hours except during sleep.
i think i kept just enough kalories to not crash but keep up fat burning.
also composition of cheese is fats and proteins and no carbs. so its a good food. i think if you make cheese one meel without carbs you should be fine. maybe the last meel of the day so the fats keep you fueled the night.

I think ME/CFS causes malnutrition, though many of us look healthy.

i think its due to metabolism shut down, low metabolism = low radicals and also low demands on nutrients. dont know what came first, but if body is driving slow, the aging is slower too.
when radicals get too much for the body to handle, it slows down processes. so we look fine, but feel like crap. like a car driving 10mph in highest gear. good on gas, bad on performance.

My theory is we have trouble getting nutrients into our cells as part of ME/CFS.

i believe that too, i think its due to low atp, because atp is cofactor of almost anything, especially maintaining homeostasis.

When I first suspected low phosphorous several years ago when I started taking B1, I drank 2 or 3 glasses of kefir and it caused that horrible fatigue to go away. I just looked this up and that was close to 300 - 500 calories -no way could I eat that many extra calories daily without putting on a lot of weight.

I just think something is not working right in my body - brilliant deduction, right? which is causing the loss of phosphorous, and potassium for that matter, which is another story.

you could also feel good on the proteins. i think you mentioned BCAA helping you too.. so it would make sense that high protein foods make you feel good too. also high protein foods should not add to weight as processing proteins for energy is a inefficient process. worst form to use for energy, but uses different pathways, could be one pathway that works. though protein for energy comes with a ammonia burden. alpha ketoglutarate can help there.

 

[Mary]

@linusbert - I do eat protein with each meal and very little carbs, almost no grains, I'll have one or 2 rice cakes a day. I'm really glad the bread and cheese worked for you! But I don't want to try that, I just don't want to take a chance right now - I gain weight SO easily! Maybe it has something to do with my thyroid also. Every once in awhile I seem to become hyperthyroid for a little while and then I do start to lose a little weight, but it doesn't last.

 

[GreenEdge]

Bread is also very high in carbohydrate.

Good luck burning fat, if you've got sugar in the blood.

Combining carbohydrate (bread) and fat (cheese) is a bad idea.

 

[linusbert]

Good luck burning fat, if you've got sugar in the blood.

i lost almost 20kgs the last 2 years. have been on bread and cheese mostly. but i feel it depends on the cheese. but i am actually not quite sure why. maybe the vitamin D.