Phosphorus Deficiency
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Certain people may be at a high risk of phosphorus deficiency:
- People with diabetes
People who have diabetes and are recovering from a ketoacidosis episode (a serious complication of the blood in diabetics) will normally be prescribed a phosphorus supplement (together with other fluids, including insulin and glucose). - People with eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
People with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia will either not be eating enough food, or if they are eating enough, may be throwing up the food they do eat before the phosphorus in their diet can be absorbed and so will often have not just a phosphorus deficiency, but will most likely be deficient in a lot of essential nutrients. - People who are malnourished and starving
People who are malnourished or starving will not be eating enough food to get adequate intake of phosphorus (and other nutrients) in their diet. - People who have alcoholism
Excessive alcohol consumption blocks absorption of all nutrients and especially phosphorus.
Certain people may be at a high risk of phosphorus deficiency - people with diabetes, people with eating disorders, people who are malnourished and starving, alcoholics
Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms
Low levels of phosphorus can cause hypophosphataemia (low blood levels of phosphorus) which can have a range of symptoms, as shown below:
- Anaemia
- Anxiety
- Bone pain
- Difficulty walking
- Fatigue
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Irregular breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness and tingling of the extremities
- Osteomalacia (in adults)
- Pancreas problems
- Rickets (in children)
- Skin sensitivity
- Thyroid malfunction
People who experience any of the symptoms above should seek the advice of their doctor about phosphorus supplementation. If the low blood levels of phosphorus (hypophosphataemia) are not improved, then it can result in death.