Phosphorus Intake In CKD

What is the phosphorus intake in CKD? CKD patients need to make sure their phosphorus level is in normal range as both high phosphorus level and low phosphorus level are harmful. Well then, as a CKD patient, how much phosphorus we can take every day?

Causes and effects high phosphorus level in CKD

A number of CKD patients have elevated phosphorus level in blood, as kidney is responsible for controlling the amount of phosphorus in blood. For a healthy individual, if he ingest too much phosphorus at one time, his kidneys will work hard to excrete the excessive one so that phosphorus level can be controlled in normal range. However, for CKD patients, their kidneys function has been impaired seriously and can not function properly. Under such a condition, excessive phosphorus can not be discharged successfully and timely, leading to elevation of phosphorus level.

Persistent high phosphorus level in blood will restrain body from getting enough calcium, which can cause a series of bone problems like bone pain, bone fracture and osteoporosis. Besides, high phosphorus level also can cause secondary hyperparathyroidism which can trigger severe itching skin. For this reason, CKD patients who are told to have elevated phosphorus level should stay way from high phosphorus foods, so as to prevent further increase of phosphorus level.

What is the phosphorus intake for CKD patients?

For a healthy adult, his phosphorus level in blood is normally in range 0.97-1.61mmol/L and 1.29-1.94mmol/L for children. For a CKD patient, how much phosphorus he is allowed to ingest every day depends on his exact illness condition. For these with early stage CKD, they need not to limit phosphorus intake. But for these whose kidney problem has developed to advanced stage, they are usually suggested to eat foods with no or low phosphorus.

Nearly every food contains some phosphorus, but there are indeed some foods that are low in phosphorus like unfortified rice, milk, nondairy creamer, low-fat cream cheese, frozen fruits pops, white bread, crackers, cereals, rice and pasta and bagels and so on. Although these foods are low in phosphorus, CKD patients need to watch portion sizes and limit the number of serving they eat or drink each day. (Any questions, contact us by leaving message to kidneycares@hotmail.com)