Phosphorus P

Atomic Number: 15
Atomic Weight: 30.974

Human Physiology:

• Essential for growth, maintenance, and repair of all body tissues
• Necessary for bone growth and formation (with Ca and Mg)
• Protein synthesis
• Carbohydrate metabolism
• Enzyme activation
• RDA 700mg/day; 1250mg during pregnancy, children and adolescents

Prevalence:

• 6th most abundant in body 600-700g mostly in bones

Source:

• Grains
• Dairy
• Meat
• Fish

Deficiency:

• Decreased appetite, anemia, Rickets in children
• Osteomalacia in adults
• decreased immunity
• numbness, tingling of extremities
• Rare as phosphorus is widespread in food supply
• Alcohol excess
• Too much antacid

Excess:

• Risk to healthy bones due to decrease in calcium intake
• Kidney damage due to calcification
• Rare, usually in hypo parathyroid