Abstract
Inorganic phosphate (Pi) plays a critical function in many tissues of the body: for example, as part of the hydroxyapatite in the skeleton and as a substrate for ATP synthesis. Pi is the main source of dietary phosphorus. Reduced bioavailability of Pi or excessive losses in the urine causes rickets and osteomalacia. While critical for health in normal amounts, dietary phosphorus is plentiful in the Western diet and is often added to foods as a preservative. This abundance of phosphorus may reduce longevity due to metabolic changes and tissue calcifications. In this review, we examine how dietary phosphorus is absorbed in the gut, current knowledge about Pi sensing, and endocrine regulation of Pi levels. Moreover, we also examine the roles of Pi in different tissues, the consequences of low and high dietary phosphorus in these tissues, and the implications for healthy aging.
Highlights
Phosphorus is one of the essential elements of the human body and is required for a diverse range of processes, such as ATP synthesis, signal transduction, and bone mineralization
Pi is absorbed in the small intestine via a paracellular route of passive diffusion or a transcellular route via Pi transporters such as NPT2b
Interruption of these absorption processes can result in hypophosphatemia
Summary
Phosphorus is one of the essential elements of the human body and is required for a diverse range of processes, such as ATP synthesis, signal transduction, and bone mineralization. Phosphorus most commonly occurs as a salt of phosphoric acid, which is an essential physiological buffer referred to as Pi. we will focus on this form of phosphorus, it is important to note that phosphorus is a component of phospholipids, DNA, RNA, ATP, and creatine phosphate (CrP). High extracellular Pi is associated with adverse health outcomes, including coronary artery calcification, worsening renal function, premature aging, and increased mortality [10,11,12,13]. The nutritional environment of Western cultures is, among other features, notable for its very high phosphorus content. This is in no small measure because Pi salts are routinely added to processed. We will highlight areas still poorly understood—for example, the function of Pi transporters in dental health, cardiovascular health, and the nature and molecular basis of paracellular Pi absorption in the gut
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