Minerals in the diet – Phosphorous

Phosphorous makes up less than 1% of a persons body weight, yet it is found in every cell ¹.

In the body, it is found as phosphate, PO₄^3-.

There are two key uses of phosphorus in the body:

• It is needed in bones and teeth (as apatite, a mineral of phosphorus).
• To produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

ATP is often known as the energy currency of cells and transfers energy in cells.

Image reproduced according to the licence at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adenosintriphosphat_protoniert.svg

Cells, essentially get energy from ATP by decomposing ATP into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) + inorganic phosphorus (PO₄^3-).

ATP –> ADP + P _i

This process releases about 20 kJ of energy per mole.

Good sources of phosphorous in the body includes milk and meat and deficiencies of the mineral are almost unheard of.

¹Reference taken from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002424.htm