Calcium and phosphate are essential minerals for a host of body functions. All cells of the body require these two important nutrients. Phosphate is a chemical form of phosphorus combined with oxygen. It combines with calcium to form a component of cell membranes. Calcium and phosphate also share a relationship with vitamin D, which helps regulate their concentration and distribution in the body. Chemically, the two minerals are active in the body in numerous life processes.
Digestion
Dairy products provide an excellent dietary source of both calcium and phosphorus. Absorption of these nutrients occurs primarily in the small intestine after digestion in the stomach. Excess is stored in the body, with a portion excreted by the urinary system. However, concentrations of these minerals are regulated in order to ensure adequate availability.
Storage
Calcium and phosphate share a common characteristic in that the majority of their stores in the body are found in bone. About 85 percent of the body's phosphorus in the form of phosphate is found within the skeletal system. Nearly all calcium is in your bones, while only one percent is circulating in the bloodstream and other parts of the body. A hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH) along with vitamin D control of the balance of both of these minerals. PTH triggers vitamin D synthesis that in turn stimulates calcium and phosphorus absorption.
Phosphate's Effects on Calcium
Calcium and phosphate have a complex chemical relationship. Both reside primarily in bone, yet phosphate can directly impact how the body absorbs calcium. A 1996 study by the Food and Drug Administration cautions against high phosphorus intake due to its effects on calcium levels. Researchers found that phosphorus can inhibit the formation of vitamin D into its active form. The body cannot absorb calcium without vitamin D, making the consequence of a diet high in phosphorus potentially harmful. Researchers identified high consumption of phosphorus-containing food additives found in processed foods as possible health risk.
Mineral Balance
In addition to providing support and protection, the skeletal system also regulates the mineral balance in the body. Regulation is critical to life. Calcium is responsible for normal nerve and muscular activity. It also functions in sugar metabolism and production of neurotransmitters, the chemical means by which nerve cells communicate. Because of its importance to life, the body can increase calcium levels in the blood through breakdown of bone. This way, the body can ensure that all cells of the body have the necessary mineral levels to function.
References
- "Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride"; Institute of Medicine; 1997
- Linus Pauling Institute; Phosphorus; Victoria J. Drake; August 2007
- Linus Pauling Institute; Calcium; Victoria J. Drake; October 2007
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Changing Phosphorus Content of the U.S. Diet: Potential for Adverse Effects on Bone; Food and Drug Administration; April 1996
- "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology"; G. Tortora et al; 2005
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