What is phosphorus in the body




















The good news is, there are many ways to manage your phosphorus through medicine and diet. Talk to your healthcare team about how to best manage your phosphorus so that you prevent bone disease. How you manage your phosphorus will depend on several things, including:. If you are on dialysis, it is very important that you do not skip dialysis treatments! Your doctor may also suggest changing the number and length of dialysis sessions to get rid of extra phosphorus. Bone disease can still occur even after you have a kidney transplant.

This can happen for several reasons, but the most common being:. If you have kidney disease, it is important to manage your phosphorus levels. This can help prevent bone disease. Bone disease often does not have any symptoms until your bones are very weak. The only way to know if you have, or are at risk for, bone disease is to be tested. Bone disease, or damage to the bones, can be caused by having a high level of phosphorus in the blood over time.

To prevent bone damage, your doctor may recommend a combination of medicines, diet changes, and exercise. To know for certain whether your bones have been damaged, you may have to have more than blood tests.

Other tests for bone health might include:. Managing your phosphorus is one of many things your doctor might talk about when you are diagnosed with kidney disease. For more information about managing phosphorus, check out our webinars on phosphorus for people with kidney disease. Take our free online continuing education CE course on Managing Hyperphosphatemia. Donate Now. Give Monthly Give In Honor. High Phosphorus hyperphosphatemia. Content updated on April 7, - Medically reviewed by Gail S.

Learn how to keep your bones healthy Download our infographic and learn how how your kidneys keep your bones healthy. Phosphorus in the Kidney Disease Diet.

Any excess phosphate in the blood is excreted either in urine or stool. Phosphate supplements are sometimes used to make the urine more acidic. It has long been presumed that doing so can help treat certain urinary tract infections or prevent the formation of kidney stones. Recent studies, however, suggest that this may not be the case. However, UTIs are more common in women with hypercalcemia abnormally high calcium as the increased urinary calcium promoted bacterial growth.

Phosphate supplements may help reverse this risk by binding with free-circulating calcium and clearing it in the stool. Similarly, kidney stones composed of calcium phosphate tend to develop when the urine pH is over 7. By lowering the pH and increasing the acidity , phosphate may able to prevent kidney stones in high-risk individuals.

Though this is not true with all stones. Kidney stones composed of calcium oxalate develop when the urine pH is less than 6. Increasing the acidity with phosphate may only promote, rather than inhibit, their growth. Phosphate supplements are considered safe if taken as prescribed.

High doses can lead to headaches, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, and vomiting. Allergies to phosphate are rare, but it's still important to call your healthcare provider or seek emergency care if you experience rash, hives, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, or swelling of the face, throat, or tongue after taking a phosphate supplement. These could be signs of potentially life-threatening, whole-body reaction known as anaphylaxis.

The excessive intake of phosphate may interfere with the body's ability to use iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. People with chronic kidney disease may need to avoid phosphate supplements.

Since the kidneys are less able to clear phosphate from the body, the mineral may accumulate and lead to hyperphosphatemia excessively high phosphorus levels. Symptoms may include rash, itching, muscle cramps, spasms, bone or joint pain, or numbness and tingling around the mouth. Excess phosphorus can also affect urine acidity and lead to the dislodgement of a previously undiagnosed kidney stone.

Outside of severe kidney dysfunction, hyperphosphatemia is extremely rare. Phosphate may interact with some pharmaceutical and over-the-counter medications. Certain drugs may cause decreases in phosphorus levels in the blood, including:.

Other drugs may cause phosphorus levels to rise excessively, including:. If you are being treated with any of these medications, you should not take phosphate supplements without first speaking with your healthcare provider.

In some cases, separating the drug doses by two to four hours will help overcome the interaction. In others, a dose adjustment or drug substitution may be needed. Phosphate supplements are available in tablet or capsule form under various brand names. Doses tend to range from 50 milligrams mg to mg.

According to Food Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine , the recommended dietary intake RDI of phosphorus from all sources varies by age and pregnancy status, as follows:. Injectable phosphate is sometimes used to treat severe hypophosphatemia. Injections are generally indicated when the blood phosphorus level drops below. The normal range is.

Phosphate injections are only given in a healthcare setting under the direction of a qualified specialist. Dietary supplements are largely unregulated in the United States and are not subject to the rigorous testing and research that pharmaceutical drugs are. Therefore, the quality can vary—sometimes significantly. Phosphate supplements are vulnerable to extreme heat, humidity, and ultraviolet UV radiation. It is always best to store the supplements in their original light-resistant container in a cool, dry room.

Never used expired supplements or supplements that are discolored or deteriorating, no matter the "use-by" date. Do I need a phosphate supplement? Most people get all the phosphorus they need from diet. These deposits can lead to an increased risk of heart attack , stroke , or death. The authors of a study note that excessively high phosphorus consumption can cause the following negative effects in animals:.

Most people get enough phosphorus in their diet, but some groups of people may need more phosphorus than others.

People who require more phosphorus include those with diabetes who take insulin to regulate their blood sugar. People with alcohol use disorder may also need to increase their phosphorus intake. People who have diabetes or are taking any of the above medications should be aware of the symptoms of having low phosphorus levels. These symptoms can include:. In rare cases, people with dangerously low phosphorus may experience a coma or other life-threatening complications.

A doctor can usually correct low phosphorus levels by treating the underlying condition. The doctor may recommend that people make dietary changes or take supplements to ensure that they get enough phosphorus. The body needs the mineral phosphorus to perform many of its basic functions.

Most people get plenty of phosphorus through their diet. People who have certain health conditions or are taking specific medications may need to increase or decrease their phosphorus intake. Anyone who is concerned about their phosphorus intake or is experiencing symptoms of a phosphorus deficiency should speak to their doctor.

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