Phosphorus is an essential mineral that is naturally occurring in many foods, added to foods in the United States as a preservative as well as available in a supplement form. Phosphorus makes up 1% of ones total body weight and is the second most abundant mineral after calcium. Phosphorus plays an important role in:
- Bone health
- Teeth health
- Cell growth and repair
- Tissue growth and repair
- Energy Production
- Balancing blood pH
- Normal heart beat regulation
- Nerve signaling
- Muscle contractions
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) of phosphorus for adults 19 and over is 700 mg daily.
Phosphorus deficiency is rare in the United States as most consume above the recommend dietary allowance. There are a few at risk adult populations for phosphorus deficiency and they include:
- Those with severe malnutrition
- Those with rare genetic disorder of phosphorus metabolism
Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency:
- Anemia
- Decreased appetite
- Muscle weakness
- Bone pain
- Rickets
- Osteomalacia
- Numbness and tingling
- Gait disturbance
- Confusion
- Increased risk of infection
Phosphorus excess is rare despite the fact that most Americans consume phosphorus much greater than the RDI. Those with chronic kidney disease may develop elevated phosphorus levels due to the kidneys inability to remove the excess phosphorus that the body is not using.
The Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for phosphorus varies with age and are as follows:
Adults 19-70 years old- 4000 mg daily
Adults 71 years old and over- 3000 mg daily
Food sources of phosphorus include:
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Salmon
- Scallops
- Chicken
- Cheese
- Lentils
- Peas
- Kidney beans
- Soybeans
- Chickpeas
- Beef
- Cashews
- Sesame seeds
- Peanut butter
- Sunflower seeds
- Potatoes
- Asparagus
- Eggs
- Brown rice
- Whole grain bread
- Whole grain tortillas
ENJOY!
This article is for information purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult with your medical provider prior to any lab testing, diet changes or new supplement/medication.
References:
Institute of Functional Medicine Fact Sheet. Micronutrients-Minerals: Vitamins. Accessed 2020
National Institutes of Health- Office of Dietary Supplements. Phosporus. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Phosphorus-HealthProfessional/
Phosphorus in Your Diet. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/what-is-phosphorus#1. Accessed January 2021
U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Phosphorus in diet. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002424.htm. Accessed January 2021
All photos used with permission from Snappa.com