Persistently Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase in an Older Woman with a History of Breast Cancer
October 2025
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
TLDR Stopping Viviscal, a hair loss product, normalized the woman's elevated alkaline phosphatase levels.
An 80-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer and osteopenia experienced elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, which were initially suspected to be due to hypercalcemia of malignancy or hyperparathyroidism. However, further investigation revealed that the use of Viviscal, a hair loss product, was the cause of the elevated ALP. Discontinuation of Viviscal led to normalization of ALP levels. This case highlights the importance for clinicians to consider supplements, such as hair growth products, as potential causes of elevated ALP levels.