Phosphorus is a critical nutrient that everyone needs, but if you are a diabetic with kidney disease, you may need to limit how much phosphorus you consume. That's a tall order, because phosphorus is ubiquitous, found in meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds and dairy foods. The problem is that impaired kidneys can't keep down your phosphorus levels, which interact with calcium metabolism. As a consequence, your arteries are danger of becoming calcified leading to high risk of both kidney and heart failure. Consult your doctor or a dietitian to create a menu that gives you the right amount of phosphorus to eat.
Phosphorus Facts
Every cell in your body needs phosphorus to function properly. Phosphorus is so plentiful, in fact, that it makes up about 1 percent of your body weight. Most phosphorus in your body is stored in your teeth and bones, and therein lies one of the mineral's most important functions: bone health. It also interacts with delivery of oxygen throughout your body through red blood cells. In addition, phosphorus helps your body use carbohydrates and fats, and plays a role in formation of protein. It is essential to releasing and storing energy. A normal blood level for phosphorus is between 2.4 mg/dL and 4.1 mg/dL.
Phosphorus and Diabetes
Diabetics, especially those with kidney disease or impaired kidney function, need to watch their phosphorus intake. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Moreover, a diet high in phosphorus can speed up the decline in kidney functioning. Many people with diabetes have high levels of phosphorus, but when your kidneys don't remove enough from your blood, your bones begin losing calcium. Phosphorus also assists in the contraction of muscles, and therefore plays a role in regulating your heartbeat and conducting your nerves. So these functions are also affected when your kidneys can't clear enough phosphorus.
Health Care Options
Although one of the first lines of defense in protecting against high phosphorus is lowering your dietary intake, you should talk with your doctor about other options. For example, your doctor may prescribe a medication that acts as a phosphorus binder, which helps to prevent absorbing the nutrient from food. Some diabetics follow what is known as the kidney diet, which is low in many nutrients your kidneys must process. In addition to phosphorus, the diet limits sodium, protein and potassium. You may inquire about seeing a renal dietitian, who works specifically with dietary matters for the kidneys. This specialized professional can design an eating plan that provides you with a target amount of phosphorus, and guide you on portion sizes so you don't overeat foods labeled as low phosphorus.
Heart Health
With your kidneys as mediator, your phosphorus levels can provide a check of your heart health. Your kidneys, heart and diabetic condition interact on multiple levels, especially through blood pressure. However, phosphorus provides another link. An imbalance of phosphorus can lead to too much calcium, which gets deposited in the walls of your arteries, clumping with other materials and forming plaques. These plaques narrow the pathway for blood to flow through, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke. A study published in the April 2009 "American Journal of Medicine" concluded that higher than normal blood levels of phosphorus were associated with death from cardiovascular problems. The authors said blood phosphorus level is even more reliable as a predictor of cardiovascular death in people with Type 2 diabetes.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute; Phosphorus; Jane Higdon; April 2003
- MedlinePlus: Phosphorus in Diet
- MedlinePlus: Serum Phosphorus
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Kidney Disease of Diabetes; Sept. 2008
- American Journal of Medicine; Serum Phosphorus and Cardiovascular Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes; Michel Chonchol, et al.; April 2009
- dLife: What is a Kidney Diet?
