Bovine alkaline phosphatase in health and disease: a bibliometric and narrative review

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.