According to Dr. Greg Obikoya, phosphorus is the body's source of phosphate, which helps create and manage energy, synthesize protein, fat and carbohydrates, contract muscles, and maintain the body's fluid and electrolyte balance. Not only is it essential for stimulating hormone production and helping the body utilize the B vitamins, it also combines with calcium to help form the latticework for strong bones and teeth. While over 80% of the body's phosphorus is located in bone, a proper balance of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus should be maintained at all times.
Phosphorus also allows proper digestion of riboflavin and niacin, aids in transmission of nerve impulses, helps your kidneys excrete wastes effectively, provides stable and plentiful energy, forms the proteins that aid in reproduction, and may help block cancer. Researchers say it's the first time the two elements have been shown to be co-dependent for bone health.
In agreement with a previous post of mine, Dr. Obikoya states that, "A diet consisting of junk food can have too much phosphorus and this effects the body's processing of calcium". Researchers say that vitamin D boosts the effectiveness of phosphorus and that magnesium helps in phosphorus absorption. Dr. Obikoya also mentions that phosphorus can speed up healing, help to prevent and treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases such as rickets and stunted or slow growth in children.
As far as our digestion is concerned, phosphorus (as phosphate) is more efficiently absorbed in the small intestine than most other minerals. Dr. Obikoya says that "Between 50% and 90% is absorbed depending on the need". This is much higher absorption percentage than for either calcium or magnesium and further reduces the likelihood of phosphorus deficiency under normal conditions.
So how is this all possible? well, the kidneys easily control the blood phosphorus level and efficiently excrete any excess phosphorus. Therefore, under normal circumstances, phosphorus toxicity is highly unlikely (but remember, not impossible).
http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/phosphorus.html
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