Phosphorus
Total body content of phosphorus is 1 kg. Bone posses 80 % of total phosphorus and muscle contains 10 % of total phosphorus. Human body requires 500 mg of phosphorus per day. Milk is the good source of phosphorus and it containsabout 100 mg/dl of phosphrous. Apart from milk, cereals, nuts and meat are moderate sources of phosprous.
Serum level of phosphate is 3-4 mg/dl for adults and 5-6 mg/dl in children. Consumption of calcitriol increases phosphate absorption.
Functions of phosphorus
(a) Plays key role in formation of tooth and bone
(b) Production of high energy phosphate compounds such as ATP, CTP, GTP etc.,
(c) Synthesis of nucleotide co-enzymes such as NAD and NADP
(d) Formation of phosphodiester backbone structure for DNA and RNA synthesis
Hypophosphatemia is the condition which leads to decrease in absorption of phosphorus. Further it leads to hypercalcamia, chronic alcoholism and increased excretion of urinary phosphate. In case of hyperphosphatemia, increase in absorption of phosphate was noticed. Hyperphosphatemia leads to cell lysis, hypocalcemia and thyrotoxicosis.
Intext Questions
1. Bone posses …………….. % of total phosphorus.
2. Serum level of phosphate is …………….. mg/dl for adults.(a) 4-8 (b) 3-4 (c) 8-9 (d) 1-2
3. …………….. plays key role in formation of tooth and bone
