Hyderabad paediatrician calls out health coach for saying a blood test can track your child's height: 'This is absurd'

Can a blood test track your kid's height? Paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh says ‘no’, warns parents: 'don't be tricked into pricking your kids yearly'.

A medical debate surrounding health advice on social media has surfaced following a video by Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, a Hyderabad-based paediatrician with 18 years of experience. Dr Santosh posted an Instagram video on August 18 in response to a social media clip shared by sports nutritionist and health coach Ryan Fernando

‘Cashing in on parental anxiety’

In his video, Ryan spoke about using an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test to monitor height growth in children. Expressing concern over the advice, Dr Santosh, who practices at the Magna Centres for Obesity, Diabetes, and Endocrinology in Film Nagar, urged parents to rely on established clinical protocols rather than online health recommendations.

"This is absurd, misleading, and this person is cashing in on parental anxiety, that’s all," Dr Santosh said. "Do not let these people trick you into pricking your child for a random blood test every year to track their growth. This is very, very unfortunate that these kinds of reels are being allowed," she added.

Medical limitations of the proposed test

Highlighting the medical limitations of using the specified test to track height, Dr Santosh shared its technical diagnostic boundaries. "This is absurd, let alone tracking the child’s height. Total alkaline phosphatase cannot tell bone apart from liver," she shared, cautioning against subjecting young children to routine, invasive blood draws.

Dr Santosh advised families to seek growth evaluations directly from qualified paediatricians: “Parents, please follow up with a good pediatrician who tracks your child’s growth on the growth chart and alerts you as needed.”

Understanding the role of alkaline phosphatase

According to the Mayo Clinic, an alkaline phosphatase blood test measures the level of ALP, a protein enzyme produced primarily in the liver and bones, as well as the kidneys, intestines, and placenta during pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic noted that a standard total ALP test measures overall enzyme levels across the body but cannot pinpoint the exact source without specialised secondary testing.

To differentiate between tissues, an ALP isoenzyme (fractionation) test is required to separate bone ALP from liver ALP. In clinical settings, ALP tests are reportedly routinely performed as part of liver panels or to investigate suspected liver and bone disorders.

The Mayo Clinic listed several conditions associated with altered ALP levels:

⦿ Liver conditions: blocked bile ducts, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver swelling.

⦿ Bone conditions: healing fractures, bone cancer, Paget's disease, osteomalacia, and hypophosphatasia.

⦿ Other factors: overactive parathyroid glands, malnutrition, inflammatory bowel disease, or pregnancy.

The Mayo Clinic also highlighted that higher ALP levels are naturally expected in growing children and teens due to rapid bone development, making standard adult baseline ranges inapplicable for pediatric growth tracking without clinical interpretation.

While routine blood tests carry minor risks such as localised bruising, soreness, or lightheadedness, per Mayo Clinic, medical consensus highlights that clinical growth charts remain the non-invasive standard for monitoring child development.

Ryan Fernando, founder of Qua Nutrition Clinics, is recognised in the health and wellness space for advising prominent public figures. HT Lifestyle has reached out to Ryan for comment and will update this article upon receiving a response.

Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.