title: Phosphorus nutrition and the treatment of osteoporosis.
abstract: Bone mineral consists of calcium phosphate, and phosphorus is as important as calcium in supporting bone augmentation and maintenance. Although typical adult diets contain abundant phosphorus, 10% to 15% of older women have intakes of less than 70% of the recommended daily allowance. When these women take high-dose calcium supplements that consist of the carbonate or citrate salts, all their food phosphorus may be bound and hence unavailable for absorption. Current-generation anabolic agents for treating osteoporosis require positive phosphorus balances of up to 90 mg/d. Attention to the nutritional adequacy of the diets of such patients is essential if they are to realize the full potential of such therapies. A calcium phosphate supplement may be preferable to the usual carbonate or citrate salts because its phosphate serves to spare food phosphorus.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, Neb 68131, USA. rheaney@creighton.edu
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Heaney
mesh_terms: D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary