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