Phosphorus in your diet is essential for many chemical reactions in the body that contribute to bone and muscle strength and nerve function. Approximately 85 percent of the phosphorus in your body resides in the bones. To be assured of the health benefits for prevention of disease, it is important to maintain a proper balance of phosphorus with other elements in the body.
Identification
Phosphorus is a nonmetallic element used by almost every cell in the heart, kidneys, brain and muscles. It assists most chemical reactions in the body and performs more functions than any other mineral. Phosphorus is required for energy for muscle contractions and nerve impulses and is involved in the genetic transfer of hereditary traits.
Function
Phosphorus repairs and maintains cells in the body. In the kidneys, phosphorus aids in the conversion of vitamin D, which is required to absorb calcium in the body. Phosphorus makes up the cellular and plasma membranes and enzymes required for proper metabolism. Phosphorus regulates pH balance in the body and assists in hormonal function.
Benefits
Phosphorus is beneficial for healing fractures, preventing brittle bones and rickets and decreasing the risk for teeth and gum disorders. Elderly people may require more phosphorus in their diets because they generally do not absorb nutrients well. A derivative of phosphate is beneficial in the treatment of some kinds of cancer. Estramustine phosphate is a chemotherapy drug for prostate cancer that acts as an alkylating agent and binds DNA so that cells cannot divide, according to the Prostate Cancer website.
Dangers
A study published October 2008 in "Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" experimented on mice to show the effect of high dietary phosphorus on lung cancer development. The results suggested that excessive phosphorus increased lung tumor progression and growth compared with a normal diet. Impaired kidney function can cause phosphorus levels to elevate to a condition called hyperphosphatemia. This can result in a decreased level of calcium in your blood, which can lead to bone disease. Therefore, people with kidney disease should decrease their intake of phosphorus, advises MayoClinic.com.
Sources
For optimum health, you should eat enough phosphorus-rich foods to meet the 1000mg recommended daily allowance for phosphorus. Generally foods high in protein are good sources of phosphorus including dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese and cheese; meat including pork, chicken and beef; fish and seafood such as tuna and lobster; sunflower seeds, peanuts, pine nuts, peanut butter, whole grain products and cereals, noodles, rice, potatoes, corn, peas and broccoli.
Deficiency
Antacids or too much iron or magnesium may deplete phosphorus levels. Hypophosphatemia is the result of a phosphorus deficiency. Low levels of phosphorus cause an imbalance in other minerals in the body and may cause calcium to be pulled from the bones resulting in a softening of the bones, muscle weakness and bone pain. Other disorders associated with extreme phosphorus deficiency are muscle atrophy and weakness, severe muscle pain, tenderness, stiffness and swelling. Weakening of the heart or irregular heart beat can occur in about 20 percent of patients with hypophosphatemia, according to The Body.
Considerations
Calcium and vitamin D are essential to proper utilization of phosphorus; the healthy balance of calcium to phosphorus is 2:1. It is important to include the combination of all these nutrients in your diet to maintain optimum health.
References
- HealthVitaminsGuide.com: Phosphorus
- The Body: Why Is Phosphorus Important?
- Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide: Prostate Cancer Glossary
- "Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine:" High Dietary Inorganic Phosphate Increases Lung Tumorigenesis and Alters Akt Signaling; Hua Jin et al.; 2008
- MayoClinic.com: Why is a Low-Phosphorus Diet Useful in Managing Kidney Disease? What Foods Contain Phosphorus?
- The Body: What Happens if I Do Not Have Enough Phosphorus?
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