Bovine alkaline phosphatase in health and disease: A bibliometric and narrative review.
ALPs may serve as useful biomarkers for cattle health, but significant gaps in research limit their clinical application.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the thymulin (facteur thymique serique) corpusSummary and findings
This review synthesizes findings from 473 studies on alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) in cattle, focusing on their roles in health and disease. It highlights the increased publication trend over the past decade, particularly regarding dairy cattle during specific physiological states. The review indicates potential applications of ALPs as biomarkers, though significant limitations in the existing literature are noted.
Abstract
Alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) are enzymes involved in bone mineralisation, liver function, and intestinal health. In cattle, the activity of ALPs varies with age, nutrition, and physiological or pathological status. Despite decades of research, the understanding of isozyme-specific roles and diagnostic applications remains fragmented. This bibliometric and narrative review synthesised 473 peer-reviewed studies that measured ALPs in cattle, published between 1948 and 2025, retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis revealed a marked increase in publications over the past decade, with most studies focused on dairy cattle during pregnancy, lactation, and metabolic adaptation. Bone-associated ALP is consistently associated with skeletal growth and mineral metabolism, whereas hepatic- and placental-associated ALPs are linked to metabolic stress and reproductive processes. Altered activity of ALPs in serum or milk has been reported in conditions such as mastitis, milk fever, ketosis, parasitic infections, and respiratory disease, supporting its potential as a biomarker of health and disease. However, major limitations remain across the literature, including the underrepresentation of beef cattle and the frequent lack of isozyme and isoform differentiation. These limitations constrain biological interpretation and clinical applicability of measuring ALPs. Overall, ALPs have potential as tools for monitoring cattle health, supporting nutritional management and veterinary care. Future research should prioritise isozyme and isoform specific analyses and expand investigations across diverse breeds and production systems to improve the diagnostic utility of ALPs and drive its potential use in cattle systems.
Background
This review addresses the role of alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) in cattle, which are important for bone mineralization, liver function, and intestinal health. Prior research has shown that ALP activity varies with age, nutrition, and health status, but the understanding of their specific roles remains fragmented. This study is significant as it compiles a large number of studies to provide a comprehensive overview of ALPs in cattle health and disease.
Methods
The study is a bibliometric and narrative review that synthesizes data from 473 peer-reviewed studies published between 1948 and 2025. The studies were retrieved from the Scopus database, focusing on the measurement of ALPs in cattle. The review does not specify the primary or secondary outcome measures.
Results
The review reports a marked increase in publications regarding ALPs, particularly in the context of dairy cattle during pregnancy and lactation. It indicates that bone-associated ALP is linked to skeletal growth and mineral metabolism, while hepatic- and placental-associated ALPs are related to metabolic stress and reproductive processes. Specific numeric findings are not provided.
Interpretation
The findings suggest that ALPs have potential as biomarkers for monitoring cattle health, aligning with previous literature that indicates their relevance in various health conditions. However, the limitations regarding the underrepresentation of beef cattle and lack of isozyme differentiation hinder the clinical applicability of these findings. This review implies that more targeted research is necessary to enhance the diagnostic utility of ALPs in cattle.
Key findings
- 473 peer-reviewed studies analyzed from 1948 to 2025.
- Marked increase in publications over the past decade.
- Most studies focused on dairy cattle during pregnancy, lactation, and metabolic adaptation.
- Altered activity of ALPs reported in conditions such as mastitis, milk fever, ketosis, parasitic infections, and respiratory disease.
Limitations
- Underrepresentation of beef cattle studies.
- Frequent lack of isozyme and isoform differentiation.
- Limited biological interpretation due to variability in study focus.