The below mentioned article provides an essay on:- 1. Physiological Functions of Phosphorus 2. Sources of Phosphorus 3. Absorption 4. Blood Phosphorus 5. Excretion 6. Disease State.

Contents:

  1. Essay on the Physiological Functions of Phosphorus
  2. Essay on the Sources of Phosphorus
  3. Essay on the Absorption of Phosphorus
  4. Essay on the Blood Phosphorus
  5. Essay on the Excretion of Phosphorus
  6. Essay on the Disease State of Phosphorus

Essay # 1. Physiological Functions of Phosphorus:

a. It is essential for the formation and devel­opment of bones and teeth along with cal­cium.

b. It is required for the formation of phospho­lipids, nucleic acids, and phosphoproteins.

c. It is involved in the formation of organic phosphates, such as hexose phosphate, triose phosphate and creatine phosphate, etc.

d. It is required for the formation of energy rich compounds, such as ATP.

e. It forms coenzymes, such as NADP, ADP, AMP & B6-PO4 etc.

f. It functions in the buffering system in cells.

g. It is required in the absorption of glucose by phosphorylation.

Essay # 2. Sources of Phosphorus:

Milk, cheese, egg-yolk, meat, fish and nuts, etc.

Essay # 3. Absorption of Phosphorus:

a. Moderate amounts of fat or acid favour absorption of phosphorus.

b. High calcium diet and phytic acid (present in cereals) decrease phosphorus absorption.

c. The absorption is enhanced when the cal­cium and phosphorus ratio is 1:1 (2:1 or 1:2).

Essay # 4. Blood Phosphorus:

The normal inorganic phosphate of plasma is 3 to 5.0 mg/100 ml in adults and is 3.5 to 5.0 mg/100 ml in children. It is somewhat higher in summer than in winter. It decreases during increased carbo­hydrate metabolism due to increased utilization for phosphorylation.

Phosphorus occurs in the blood in the follow­ing forms:

Essay # 5. Excretion of Phosphorus:

Inorganic phosphorus is excreted in the urine and feces. The total urine excretion is 0.8 to 2.0 gm./24 hr. The sources of urinary inorganic phosphorus is mainly that of plasma. On a balanced diet, urine phosphate constitutes about 60 per cent of the to­tal excretion.

The rest is excreted in the feces. The renal threshold for phosphate excretion is about 2 mg/100 ml of plasma. The reabsorption of phos­phorus is inhibited by the parathyroid hormone.

Essay # 6. Disease State of Phosphorus:

a. In rickets, serum phosphate level is as low as 1-2 mg/100 ml.

b. There is a temporary decrease in serum phosphate during absorption of carbohy­drate and some fats.

c. A lower concentration of organic phos­phorus but a higher concentration of inor­ganic phosphorus in the serum has been estimated in diabetes mellitus.

d. Phosphate retention causes the acidosis in severe renal disease. The resultant is the increase in serum phosphorus level.

e. Serum phosphorus levels are increased in hypoparathyroidism.

f. Blood phosphorus levels are decreased in hyperparathyroidism and in celiac dis­ease.

g. In renal rickets, there is low blood phos­phorus level with an increased alkaline phosphatase activity.

h. The deficiency of vitamin D is the cause of the low serum phosphorus and the de­fects in the calcification of bones.

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