Phosphorus

About Phosphorus

Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body after calcium, and most of it lies in bones and teeth as hydroxyapatite. Official intake recommendations exist. As phosphate it forms part of ATP, the sugar phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA, and membrane phospholipids, and it buffers acid base balance. Phosphorylation regulates enzyme activity and cell signaling. Dietary deficiency is rare because phosphorus is abundant and well absorbed. Low blood phosphate occurs in refeeding syndrome, treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, alcoholism, hyperparathyroidism and long term use of aluminum or magnesium antacids that bind phosphate, and can cause muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis, heart and breathing problems, confusion and hemolytic anemia. High blood phosphate arises mainly in kidney failure, contributing to secondary hyperparathyroidism, vascular calcification and renal bone disease, and is managed with phosphate binders. Phosphate additives in processed foods are absorbed far more completely than phytate bound phosphorus in plant seeds.