Excessive Phosphorus Effects: Watch Out! Don't Underestimate!

YOGYAKARTA - Phosphorus is a mineral that is abundant in the body. In the body, phosphorus has various important roles, such as forming and strengthening bone tissue and teeth, providing energy for the body, producing protein, and maintaining muscles, nerves, heart, and kidneys. Do you know how dangerous the effects of excess phosphorus are in the body?

Recommendations for daily phosphorus intake vary for each person, depending on their age. The recommended amount of phosphorus consumption is as follows:

  • For adults and mothers with two bodies or breastfeeding, that is 700 mg per day
  • For toddlers, it ranges from 100–250 mg per day
  • Children aged 1–9 years need 500 mg per day
  • Children and adolescents aged 10–18 years need approximately 1,200 mg per day

Even though it has quite important benefits for body health, the accumulation of phosphorus can actually have bad consequences for the body. This condition of excess phosphorus in the body is medically called hyperphosphatemia.

Excessive Phosphorus Effects

Accumulation of phosphorus can be caused by certain conditions or diseases, including:

Chronic kidney failure

One of the functions of the kidneys is to remove toxins and excess fluids and minerals in the body through urine. When the kidneys cannot function properly, for example, due to chronic kidney failure, minerals and toxins will accumulate in the body.

This can cause levels of toxins, electrolytes, and minerals (including phosphorus) in the blood to increase drastically.

Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a condition when the parathyroid glands in the body only produce small amounts of parathyroid hormone. This hormone plays a role in regulating phosphorus and calcium levels in the blood.

When parathyroid hormone production does not meet needs, the body's function to regulate hormone production will decrease. This situation can trigger an increase in phosphorus content and a decrease in calcium content in the blood (hypocalcemia).

Uncontrolled diabetes

Diabetes can also trigger a buildup of phosphorus in the body. Uncontrolled diabetes causes high blood sugar levels which can trigger damage to the body's organs, one of which is the kidneys (diabetic nephropathy). People with diabetes are also at risk of experiencing a dangerous complication called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Some of these diabetes complications will then cause various complications, one of which is the accumulation of phosphorus in the body.

Besides the conditions mentioned above, there are several other conditions that can cause a buildup of phosphorus in the body, including:

  • Excess vitamin D
  • Serious infection throughout the body (sepsis)
  • Serious injury
  • Rhabdomyolysis

So after knowing everything related to the effects of excess phosphorus, check out other interesting news on VOI, it's time to revolutionize the news!