Phosphate Homeostasis
& Its Related Disorders
Dr Ifat Ara Begum
Associate Professor
Dept of Biochemistry
Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka
Introduction to phosphate
Essential to many vital physiological
processes
One of the important anion of ICF
(140 meq/L)
Functions of phosphate
Bone mineralization
Participates in energy metabolism
(storage & transfer of energy)
Component of
1. Phospholipid, nucleotides & nucleic
acid
2. 2,3-BPG & regulate oxygen transport
Contd
Acts as
 Buffer & facilitates urinary acid excretion
 The component of intracellular 2nd
messenger
& participates in signal transduction
Regulation of enzyme activity by covalent
modification of enzyme
Facilitates respiratory chain activity
Renal handling of phosphate
May be discussed under following
headlines:
I. Tubular load of phosphate
II. Tubular reabsorption of phosphate
III. Renal excretion of phosphate
i) Tubular load of phosphate
 Tubular load equals to GFR X free
Plasma phosphate concentration
 100 - 200 mmol/day
ii) Tubular reabsorption of phosphate
80 - 95% of tubular load
i. From PCT: 70-80% by secondary
active transport
ii. From distal nephron : 10 - 20%
Contd
Remember,
 Normally, phosphate is reabsorbed
essentially from PCT & here, its
reabsorption is inhibited by PTH
 Distal nephron reabsorbs phosphate
only if hectic phosphate restriction in
diet is imposed
Contd
Process of tubular reabsorption of
phosphate:
Na+
- K+
pump keeps the intracellular
Na+
concentration low
So, Na+
from lumen diffuses to cell
along with phosphate via Na-PO4
symporter
Phosphate from cell goes to blood
through basolateral border by
diffusion
iii) Renal excretion of phosphate
< 20% of tubular load
It is <20 - 40 mmol/day
Contd
Factors regulating renal phosphate
excretion:
 1. Dietary phosphate intake: If
increases, renal phosphate excretion
also increases.
 2. Plasma phosphate concentration:
If increases, renal phosphate
excretion also increases.
Contd
 3. PTH: It inhibits the Na-PO4
symporter & increases phosphate
excretion by decreasing its
reabsorption
 4. Calcitonin: It increases the renal
excretion of phosphate
Contd
5. Acid base status:
 In PCT of kidney, Na-PO4 symporter
preferably entertains HPO4
-2
rather
than H2PO4
-
to be reabsorbed
 In acidosis, H2PO4
-
predominates, so renal
phosphate reabsorption decreases
 In alkalosis, HPO4
-2
predominates, so renal
phosphate reabsorption increases
Phosphate homeostasis
May be discussed under following
headings:
 Body phosphate content
 Distribution of phosphate
 Phosphate balance
 Daily turnover of phosphate
&
 Regulation of phosphate balance
Body phosphate content
600 – 700 g in adult
(20 – 25 mol)
[1 mmol of phosphate= 30 mg]
Distribution of phosphate
I. 80 - 85% in bone : Predominantly as
calcium phosphate crystal (hydroxy
apatite crystal)
II. 15 - 20% in soft tissues
III. 0.1% in ECF
Contd
Plasma phosphate:
2.5 – 4.5 mg%
Forms of plasma phosphate:
A. Organic: 70%
B. Inorganic: 30%
Contd
Inorganic phosphate:
 Is measured clinically as it is
biologically active
 Represents the phosphate status of an
individual

Present in 3 forms in plasma:
i. Free form (85%)
ii. Protein bound form (10%)
iii. As complex with cation (5%)
Phosphate balance
Intake: 1400 mg/day via milk/milk
products, fish, meat, vegetables etc
Output: 1400 mg/day via
a) Urine: 900 mg/day
b) Feces: 500 mg/day
Contd
Intestinal absorption of phosphate:
60 – 70% of dietary phosphate is
absorbed from intestine by vitamin D
& PTH
Intestinal absorption matches with
renal excretion in steady state
Contd
From intestine, phosphate is absorbed
:
Actively through transcellular route by
Na-PO4 symporter stimulated by
vitamin D
&
Passively through paracellular route
Phosphate turnover
Available phosphate in intestine:
1600 mg
1. Diet (1400 mg/day)
2. Various intestinal secretion (200
mg/day)
Contd
From intestinal lumen,
 1100 mg of phosphate is absorbed by
PTH & vitamin D (with net absorption
of 900 mg) which joins ECF
phosphate pool of pool 600 – 700
mg

Remaining 500 mg of phosphate
from intestinal lumen is excreted with
stool
Contd
ECF phosphate pool is in reversible
equilibrium with soft tissue phosphate
pool & bone phosphate pool at a
definite turnover rate
From ECF , 900 mg calcium is
excreted through urine daily to match
with the intestinal absorption
Contd
Renal excretion of phosphate is
regulated by PTH
Bony phosphate turnover is regulated
by PTH & vitamin D
Regulation of phosphate balance
Contd
Remember, The net effect of :
1. Calcitriol : Hypercalcemia &
Hyperphosphatemia. Calcitriol directly
can suppress PTH secretion
2. PTH: Hypercalcemia but
hypophosphatemia
3. Calcitonin: Hypocalcemia &
hypophosphatemia
↓ Plasma
PO4
↑Calcitrio
l
↑ intestinal
Calcium
absorption
↑
intestinal
PO4
absorptio
n
↓ PTH
↓ bone
resorptio
n
↓ PO4
excretion
↑ Calcium
excretion
No change / slight ↑
in plasma calcium
Serum PO4 comes
back to normal
Contd
Reverse events
occur in
hyperphosphate
mia.
Abnormalities of phosphate
homeostasis
2 types of abnormalities:
1. Hyperphosphatemia
2. Hypophosphatemia
1. Hyperphosphatemia
An electrolyte disturbance in which
there is abnormally elevated level of
phosphate in blood
>4.5 mg%
Often, calcium levels are lowered
(hypocalcemia) due to precipitation of
phosphate with the calcium in tissues. 
Contd
Causes may be listed under following
headings:
 Impaired renal excretion: RF
 Increased phosphate
intake/absorption: dietary intake,↑
ingestion of phosphate containing
supplement/bowel preparations etc
 Release from intracellular store:
Rhabdomyolysis, tumorolysis etc
Contd
 Endocrinopathies:
Hypoparathyroidism, Resistance to
PTH
 Shift from intracellular to extracellular
compartment: Metabolic acidosis,
lactic acidosis, DKA
 Genetic diseases: Familial tumoral
calcinosis
Contd (Explanation on shift)
Metabolic acidosis causes phosphorus to
shift out of cells.
In lactic acidosis, glycolysis is decreased,
which decreases intracellular utilization of
phosphate in the generation of ATP.
In DKA, glycolysis is impaired and
hyperglycemia can shift phosphate out of
cells via osmotic drag.
2. Hypophosphatemia
An electrolyte disturbance in which
there is abnormally low level of
phosphate in blood
<2.5 mg%
Contd
Causes may be listed under following
headings:
 Increased renal excretion:
Hyperparathyroidism, metabolic
acidosis etc
 Decreased phosphate
intake/absorption: Poor intake,
malabsorption, vitamin D
deficiency/resistance, diarrhoea,
steatorrhea etc
Contd
 Shift from extracellular to intracellular
compartment: : Respiratory alkalosis,
elevated serum insulin or glucose levels
 Genetic diseases: Autosomal dominant
hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets
(ADHR), X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets
(XHR) etc
Contd (Explanation on shift)
In respiratory alkalosis, CO2 decreases in the
extracellular space, causing intracellular
CO2 to freely diffuse out of the cell.
This drop in intracellular CO2 causes a rise in
cellular pH which has a stimulating effect
on glycolysis.
Contd
Since the process of glycolysis requires
phosphate (the end product is ATP), the
result is a massive uptake of phosphate into
metabolically active tissue (such as muscle)
from the serum.
So hypophosphatemia develops
Phosphate homeostasis & its related disorders

Phosphate homeostasis & its related disorders

  • 1.
    Phosphate Homeostasis & ItsRelated Disorders Dr Ifat Ara Begum Associate Professor Dept of Biochemistry Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka
  • 2.
    Introduction to phosphate Essentialto many vital physiological processes One of the important anion of ICF (140 meq/L)
  • 3.
    Functions of phosphate Bonemineralization Participates in energy metabolism (storage & transfer of energy) Component of 1. Phospholipid, nucleotides & nucleic acid 2. 2,3-BPG & regulate oxygen transport
  • 4.
    Contd Acts as  Buffer& facilitates urinary acid excretion  The component of intracellular 2nd messenger & participates in signal transduction Regulation of enzyme activity by covalent modification of enzyme Facilitates respiratory chain activity
  • 5.
    Renal handling ofphosphate May be discussed under following headlines: I. Tubular load of phosphate II. Tubular reabsorption of phosphate III. Renal excretion of phosphate
  • 6.
    i) Tubular loadof phosphate  Tubular load equals to GFR X free Plasma phosphate concentration  100 - 200 mmol/day
  • 7.
    ii) Tubular reabsorptionof phosphate 80 - 95% of tubular load i. From PCT: 70-80% by secondary active transport ii. From distal nephron : 10 - 20%
  • 8.
    Contd Remember,  Normally, phosphateis reabsorbed essentially from PCT & here, its reabsorption is inhibited by PTH  Distal nephron reabsorbs phosphate only if hectic phosphate restriction in diet is imposed
  • 9.
    Contd Process of tubularreabsorption of phosphate: Na+ - K+ pump keeps the intracellular Na+ concentration low So, Na+ from lumen diffuses to cell along with phosphate via Na-PO4 symporter Phosphate from cell goes to blood through basolateral border by diffusion
  • 11.
    iii) Renal excretionof phosphate < 20% of tubular load It is <20 - 40 mmol/day
  • 12.
    Contd Factors regulating renalphosphate excretion:  1. Dietary phosphate intake: If increases, renal phosphate excretion also increases.  2. Plasma phosphate concentration: If increases, renal phosphate excretion also increases.
  • 13.
    Contd  3. PTH:It inhibits the Na-PO4 symporter & increases phosphate excretion by decreasing its reabsorption  4. Calcitonin: It increases the renal excretion of phosphate
  • 14.
    Contd 5. Acid basestatus:  In PCT of kidney, Na-PO4 symporter preferably entertains HPO4 -2 rather than H2PO4 - to be reabsorbed  In acidosis, H2PO4 - predominates, so renal phosphate reabsorption decreases  In alkalosis, HPO4 -2 predominates, so renal phosphate reabsorption increases
  • 15.
    Phosphate homeostasis May bediscussed under following headings:  Body phosphate content  Distribution of phosphate  Phosphate balance  Daily turnover of phosphate &  Regulation of phosphate balance
  • 16.
    Body phosphate content 600– 700 g in adult (20 – 25 mol) [1 mmol of phosphate= 30 mg]
  • 17.
    Distribution of phosphate I.80 - 85% in bone : Predominantly as calcium phosphate crystal (hydroxy apatite crystal) II. 15 - 20% in soft tissues III. 0.1% in ECF
  • 18.
    Contd Plasma phosphate: 2.5 –4.5 mg% Forms of plasma phosphate: A. Organic: 70% B. Inorganic: 30%
  • 19.
    Contd Inorganic phosphate:  Ismeasured clinically as it is biologically active  Represents the phosphate status of an individual  Present in 3 forms in plasma: i. Free form (85%) ii. Protein bound form (10%) iii. As complex with cation (5%)
  • 20.
    Phosphate balance Intake: 1400mg/day via milk/milk products, fish, meat, vegetables etc Output: 1400 mg/day via a) Urine: 900 mg/day b) Feces: 500 mg/day
  • 21.
    Contd Intestinal absorption ofphosphate: 60 – 70% of dietary phosphate is absorbed from intestine by vitamin D & PTH Intestinal absorption matches with renal excretion in steady state
  • 22.
    Contd From intestine, phosphateis absorbed : Actively through transcellular route by Na-PO4 symporter stimulated by vitamin D & Passively through paracellular route
  • 24.
    Phosphate turnover Available phosphatein intestine: 1600 mg 1. Diet (1400 mg/day) 2. Various intestinal secretion (200 mg/day)
  • 25.
    Contd From intestinal lumen, 1100 mg of phosphate is absorbed by PTH & vitamin D (with net absorption of 900 mg) which joins ECF phosphate pool of pool 600 – 700 mg  Remaining 500 mg of phosphate from intestinal lumen is excreted with stool
  • 26.
    Contd ECF phosphate poolis in reversible equilibrium with soft tissue phosphate pool & bone phosphate pool at a definite turnover rate From ECF , 900 mg calcium is excreted through urine daily to match with the intestinal absorption
  • 28.
    Contd Renal excretion ofphosphate is regulated by PTH Bony phosphate turnover is regulated by PTH & vitamin D
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Contd Remember, The neteffect of : 1. Calcitriol : Hypercalcemia & Hyperphosphatemia. Calcitriol directly can suppress PTH secretion 2. PTH: Hypercalcemia but hypophosphatemia 3. Calcitonin: Hypocalcemia & hypophosphatemia
  • 31.
    ↓ Plasma PO4 ↑Calcitrio l ↑ intestinal Calcium absorption ↑ intestinal PO4 absorptio n ↓PTH ↓ bone resorptio n ↓ PO4 excretion ↑ Calcium excretion No change / slight ↑ in plasma calcium Serum PO4 comes back to normal
  • 32.
  • 33.
    Abnormalities of phosphate homeostasis 2types of abnormalities: 1. Hyperphosphatemia 2. Hypophosphatemia
  • 34.
    1. Hyperphosphatemia An electrolytedisturbance in which there is abnormally elevated level of phosphate in blood >4.5 mg% Often, calcium levels are lowered (hypocalcemia) due to precipitation of phosphate with the calcium in tissues. 
  • 35.
    Contd Causes may belisted under following headings:  Impaired renal excretion: RF  Increased phosphate intake/absorption: dietary intake,↑ ingestion of phosphate containing supplement/bowel preparations etc  Release from intracellular store: Rhabdomyolysis, tumorolysis etc
  • 36.
    Contd  Endocrinopathies: Hypoparathyroidism, Resistanceto PTH  Shift from intracellular to extracellular compartment: Metabolic acidosis, lactic acidosis, DKA  Genetic diseases: Familial tumoral calcinosis
  • 37.
    Contd (Explanation onshift) Metabolic acidosis causes phosphorus to shift out of cells. In lactic acidosis, glycolysis is decreased, which decreases intracellular utilization of phosphate in the generation of ATP. In DKA, glycolysis is impaired and hyperglycemia can shift phosphate out of cells via osmotic drag.
  • 38.
    2. Hypophosphatemia An electrolytedisturbance in which there is abnormally low level of phosphate in blood <2.5 mg%
  • 39.
    Contd Causes may belisted under following headings:  Increased renal excretion: Hyperparathyroidism, metabolic acidosis etc  Decreased phosphate intake/absorption: Poor intake, malabsorption, vitamin D deficiency/resistance, diarrhoea, steatorrhea etc
  • 40.
    Contd  Shift fromextracellular to intracellular compartment: : Respiratory alkalosis, elevated serum insulin or glucose levels  Genetic diseases: Autosomal dominant hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR), X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XHR) etc
  • 41.
    Contd (Explanation onshift) In respiratory alkalosis, CO2 decreases in the extracellular space, causing intracellular CO2 to freely diffuse out of the cell. This drop in intracellular CO2 causes a rise in cellular pH which has a stimulating effect on glycolysis.
  • 42.
    Contd Since the processof glycolysis requires phosphate (the end product is ATP), the result is a massive uptake of phosphate into metabolically active tissue (such as muscle) from the serum. So hypophosphatemia develops