Kidney Disorders and Phosphorus Overview

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Phosphates, phosphorus: Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods, including milk, cheese, dried beans, peas, nuts, and peanut butter. Phosphorus plays an important role in the formation of bones and teeth. Phosphate is the most common form of phosphorus. Phosphate salts (except for calcium phosphate) have been shown to effectively reduce high levels of calcium in the blood, a condition called hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia may occur as a result of kidney disorders such as Fanconi syndrome. High levels of calcium in the blood may also lead to kidney stones. However, intravenous phosphate may not be recommended as a treatment for hypercalcemia due to concerns about lowering blood pressure, excessively lowering calcium levels, heart attack, tetany, and kidney failure. Sudden low blood pressure, kidney failure, and death have been reported after phosphate infusion.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of phosphates for the treatment of hypophosphatemia in adults. Taking sodium phosphate or potassium phosphate has been shown to effectively prevent and treat most causes of hypophosphatemia. Patients should only take phosphate supplements under the guidance of their healthcare providers. The underlying cause of the hypophosphatemia should be identified and corrected whenever possible.

Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to any ingredients in phosphorus/phosphate preparations. Use phosphorus/phosphate salts cautiously with kidney or liver disease, heart failure, chest pain (angina), recent heart surgery, hyperphosphatemia (high phosphate blood level), hypocalcemia (low calcium blood level), hypokalemia (low potassium blood level), hypernatremia (high sodium blood level), Addison's disease, intestinal obstruction or ileus, bowel perforation, severe chronic constipation, acute colitis, toxic megacolon, hypomotility syndrome, hypothyroidism, scleroderma, or gastric retention. Avoid sodium phosphate enemas with congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the intestine. Too much phosphorus may cause serious or life-threatening toxicity.