[Phosphorus intake and bone health]

Abstract

Phosphorus, which constitutes hydroxyapatite with calcium, is a important component of bone. It is considered that there is no need to worry about the lack of phosphorus in the ordinary dietary habits, because a various of foods contain phosphorus. Recently, an excess intake of phosphorus is considered a problem, because phosphorus is frequently used as a food additive. It has been reported that parathyroid hormone and bone resorption markers are increased in case of low calcium/phosphorus intake ratio. In the Dietary reference intakes for Japanese, 2010, shows 3,000 mg/day as a tolerable upper intake level of phosphorus. Some issues such as the intake ratio of calcium to phosphorus and an effect of organic phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus remain to be solved.