Phosphorus as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
Author: Vlahov, Yordan D.
Abstracts:
Phosphorus is crucial for all living organisms. It is vital for the transmission of genetic material (nucleic acids), the synthesis of biological membranes (phospholipids), energy stores of the body (ATP), and transmembrane channeling of biological signals (phosphorylation). The regulation of phosphate levels in the human body is mediated by three hormones – parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), that affect three systems: the gastrointestinal tract, the bones and the kidneys. Our everyday food is rich in phosphorus, especially the food preservatives that are used more and more widely and therefore we keep increasing our phosphate intake. Several recent studies show that phosphate overload increases the cardiovascular risk both indirectly (by increasing PTH and FGF23) and directly (by causing endothelial dysfunction and vascular calcifications). The current review presents the contemporary knowledge on the link between phosphorus and cardiovascular risk.
