Minerals, like vitamins, are substances found in food that help your body grow and function properly. Next to calcium, phosphorus is the most abundant mineral in the body. Phosphorus and calcium work together to promote bone health. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, approximately 85 percent of the body's phosphorus is in bone and teeth. High phosphorous, or hyperphosphatemia, means phosphorous blood levels are elevated.
Function
The majority of phosphorous is bound to calcium, as calcium phosphate in your bones. The remainder is in cells and tissues throughout the body. Phosphorous has several roles in the body. It assists in cell-to-cell communication, your body requires it to activate B vitamins, and it is part of adenosine tri-phosphate, or ATP, the body's primary energy chemical. In addition, phosphorous helps your kidneys filter waste from about 200 qt. of blood a day.
High Phosphorous
Because phosphorous is abundant in your diet, deficiency is rare. High phosphorous is more common. Because of the delicate balance between phosphorous and calcium, consuming too much phosphorous without enough calcium can increase phosphorous levels. A phosphorous-rich diet increases calcium need. Since the kidney's control how much phosphorous is in your blood, kidney impairment is another common cause of high phosphorous.
Implications
According to the American Association of Kidney Patients, you may not experience symptoms of high phosphorous, but adverse health effects can occur. Prolonged high phosphorous can lead to bone disease, heart disease, and buildup of mineral deposits in your kidneys, heart, blood vessels, lungs, joints, skin and eyes. Because of the intimate relation between phosphorous and other vitamins and minerals in your body, high phosphorous levels can also imbalance vital nutrients. Symptoms can include itchy skin, red eyes, joint pain and bone pain.
Treatment
Your health care provider can perform a test determine the level of phosphorous in your blood. If you are diagnosed with high phosphorous, your physician will recommend a low-phosphorous diet. Depending on how high your phosphorous levels are and the function of your kidneys, your physician may prescribe medications that bind to phosphorous and remove it from the body.
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