Phosphorus: an essential mineral
When we talk about minerals, hardly anyone thinks of phosphorus. This is because phosphorus tends to lead a shadowy existence alongside other minerals. Yet it is the second most abundant mineral in our body and indispensable for all cell functions and cell metabolic processes: no biological organism can function without this important raw material. No human being, no animal, no plant.
The mineral phosphorus
Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and the atomic number 15. It occurs in several modifications that differ greatly from one another. In nature, phosphorus is found exclusively in bound form, mostly as phosphate, i.e. as a salt of phosphoric acid. A typical mineral in the earth's crust is apatite, for example. Phosphorus compounds are essential for all living things and are involved in the structure and function of organisms in central areas. There are 600 to 700 grams of phosphorus in our bodies, making it the second most abundant mineral after calcium. About 85 percent of phosphorus is bound in the bones, 14 percent is found in the body's cells and only about 1 percent is found outside the cells, for example in the blood plasma. For every kilogram of a person's body weight, there are about 10 g of phosphorus, which is why it is classified as a bulk element.
Phosphorus occurs in four allotropic modifications as white, red, black and violet phosphorus. They differ greatly in their physical properties and reactivity. White phosphorus is derived from phosphorus minerals and is converted into the other forms by high pressure or temperature. White phosphorus is the most reactive and the most toxic modification.
White phosphorus, the least stable, most reactive and most toxic form of phosphorus, was used to make matches until the beginning of the 20th century. Workers handling phosphorus baths in the 19th century, completely unprotected, quickly suffered from jaw necrosis, i.e. dead jaw bones, and became unable to work. Among them were also many children and young people who were employed in packing the matches. The mortality rate among the workers was 20 per cent, and some of the survivors were severely disfigured. The unhealthy working conditions led to the first occupational health consequences in the history of modern medicine. In 1906, the Bern Convention led to the banning of white phosphorus in match production. Today, red phosphorus is used.
Phosphorus for your health
Phosphorus has many vital functions in our body. It is important for the structure and strength of our bones and teeth, because it is only through the storage of hydroxyapatite, a compound of calcium and phosphate, that the bones receive structure and strength. Hydroxyapatite also protects our teeth: 95 percent of tooth enamel consists of calcium phosphate, making it the hardest mineral in our body. Another place where phosphorus is used is the body's energy currency, adenosine triphosphate ATP. This compound stores and transports the energy in your body to where it is needed. In the acid-base balance, phosphorus has a regulating effect on the pH value of the blood in the form of the phosphate buffer. Blood phosphorus levels are closely linked to calcium levels and are regulated by vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23).
More information about the influence of phosphorus on your health
How much phosphorus does your body need?
The German Nutrition Society recommends a phosphorus intake of 700 milligrams per day for adults. Natural phosphorus is found in almost all foods, particularly high in some cheeses and legumes. Most foods with a high protein content also contain a lot of phosphorus. In addition to natural phosphates, phosphates are added to many foods as preservatives, raising agents, acidifiers or stabilisers. This gives many finished products their special properties: finely melting processed cheese, free-flowing milk powder, slightly acidic cola, longer fresh cold cuts. The phosphates are named with different E-numbers, which are declared on the packaging. However, they do not give any information about how much added phosphorus the food contains. It is therefore best for people suffering from kidney insufficiency to avoid foods with the corresponding E-numbers, as there is a risk of increased phosphate intake. For many foods with a naturally high phosphate content, there are lower phosphate alternatives.
Phosphorus deficiency and excess
Almost all foods contain natural phosphorus, many contain artificially produced phosphate. For a healthy person, it is almost impossible to suffer a phosphorus deficiency. The chance of ingesting too much of the mineral is much greater and can be a danger, especially for people with impaired kidney function.
A phosphate deficiency is more likely to occur in connection with existing diseases or the intake of certain medications. Chronic intestinal diseases can make absorption in the intestine more difficult or lead to diarrhoea, which causes minerals to be flushed out. Kidney dysfunction can lead to increased drainage and thus to increased excretion of minerals. Hyperthyroidism can also lead to a phosphorus deficiency, as can the long-term use of aluminium-containing medicines against heartburn, so-called antacids. A phosphate deficiency leads to a disturbance of all cell functions and metabolic processes.
A healthy kidney excretes excess phosphate, so that a phosphate surplus mainly affects people with a pre-existing disease. A common cause is impaired kidney function, which prevents excess phosphate from being excreted in the urine. Phosphorus can accumulate in the body if the parathyroid gland or the adrenal glands are underactive. Hyperthyroidism and lack of exercise can lead to increased bone loss and associated phosphorus release.
Conclusion
Has this article made you curious? The linked articles will give you more information on the individual topics.
