Dear Kay,

Although I have no references for this, it would not surprise me if alk phos levels were slightly elevated during breastfeeding.  Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in the bones which hydrolyzes various phosphate esters.  We know that the body is doing a lot of shifting around of calcium/phosphate ions in and out of the bones during and after breastfeeding, in order to insure proper calcium levels in the breastmilk and then to replenish any bone mass that has been lost during lactation.  Elevated levels are also seen during childhood and adolescence, another time of life when there is a lot of activity in the bones.  But since most breastfeeding mothers are not routinely screened for this, we have no idea what normal values are for breastfeeding mothers - it may also depend on a lot of other variables including the age of the baby, mother's age and parity, diet.  Much ado about nothing, I would guess.

Warmly,
Sharon Knorr, BSMT, ASCP, IBCLC
Newark, NY (near Rochester on Lake Ontario)
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