What is Phosphate in Blood Test? What is High and Low Phosphate Value? Causes & Treatment?
- Health Garden
- Mar 23, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 17, 2024
The phosphate test is a test that measures the amount of phosphate in your blood.
Phosphorus is one of the macro minerals necessary for the normal functioning of every cell in the body.
Phosphorus mineral combines with oxygen and turns into phosphate form and is found in this form in the human body. Phosphate mineral, which generally works together with vitamin D and calcium, basically participates in the structure of vital molecules such as DNA, RNA and ATP.
It plays a role in bone mineralization, intracellular signaling, oxygen transport in the blood, maintenance of acid and base balance, and preservation of the integrity of the cell membrane.
85% of the phosphorus in an adult human body is found in bone and tooth structure, 14% in soft tissues and 1% in extracellular fluid.
What is A Normal Phosphate Value in Blood Test ?
The normal value of Phosphate in blood test is 2.8 to 4.5 mg/dL for adults. Phosphate values vary depending on age. The normal phosphate value for children is 4.0 to 7.0 mg/dL. Reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. The reference value of the laboratory where the test was performed should be taken into account.
What is High Phosphate Value in Blood Test?
High phosphate in a blood test is a value above 4.5 mg/dL for adults.
High phosphate is called hyperphosphatemia.
High phosphorus levels can occur through three main mechanisms.
Increased phosphate intake
Decreased phosphate excretion
A disorder that shifts intracellular phosphate into the extracellular space
High phosphate levels can also cause serious harm to the body. For example, this will cause calcium to be withdrawn from the bones, and as a result, the bones may weaken. Calcium deposits can form in the blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart. Additionally, hyperphosphatemia can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and even death.
What Causes High Phosphate Value in Blood Test?
Late stages of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. If damaged kidneys can't filter out extra phosphate, it can build up in your blood.
If you have a condition that affects your kidneys, eating too much phosphorus-rich food may also lead to high phosphate levels.
Hypoparathyroidism. With this condition, your parathyroid glands don't make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). When PTH is low, calcium levels are low and phosphate levels are high.
Acidosis. This means having too much acid in your blood from a pH imbalance. It may be caused by a lung disorder or other health conditions, including kidney disease.
Long-term use of certain medicines. These include steroids, laxatives, and enemas that contain phosphate.
High intake of vitamin D: An increase in vitamin D may lead to hyperphosphatemia due to excessive absorption of phosphorus.
Calcium Deficiency
Magnesium deficiency
Diabetes
Liver diseases
Chemotherapy
Ketoacidosis
High Phosphate Symptoms
High phosphate levels cause no symptoms. Symptoms generally depend on underlying causes or are symptoms that occur as a result of high phosphate causing low calcium levels. Possible high phosphate symptoms include:
Muscle cramps
Bone and joint pain
Pruritus, and rash
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Anorexia
Nausea
Vomiting
Sleep disturbances
Seizures
Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
How to Treat High Phosphate Level?
Treatment for high phosphate depends on the underlying cause. In addition to high phosphate, your doctor will make a diagnosis by looking at other tests and your symptoms and apply the appropriate treatment protocol. For example, if the elevation is due to excessive phosphate intake, your doctor may regulate your diet and prescribe medications that make it difficult to absorb phosphate. Or, if the reason for the elevation is the kidneys' inability to excrete excess phosphate, appropriate treatment can be given for this reason.
What is Low Phosphate in Blood Test?
Low phosphate in a blood test is a value below 2.8 mg/dL for adults.
A lower than normal phosphate level is called hypophosphatemia.
Mildly low levels often aren't a health problem. But many conditions that cause low levels may need treatment.
Low phosphate may result from inadequate phosphate intake, excessive phosphate excretion, or the shift of extracellular phosphate into the cell.
What Causes Low Phosphate in Blood Test?
Some possible factors that cause low Phosphate include:
Hyperparathyroidism. In this condition, your parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone, leading to high levels of calcium and low levels of phosphate in the blood.
Vitamin D deficiency
Insufficient phosphorus consumption
Some genetic disorders
Malnutrition
Excessive alcohol use
Long-term use of some medications
Low Phosphate Symptoms
Most patients with hypophosphatemia are asymptomatic. Sometimes patients with mild hypophosphatemia may complain of fatigue. Severe acute hypophosphatemia can have a variety of signs and symptoms, including:
Disorientation
Seizures
Focal neurological findings
Signs of heart failure
Muscle pain
How to Treat Low Phosphate Level?
Treatment for low phosphate depends on the underlying cause. In addition to low phosphate, your doctor will make a diagnosis by looking at other tests and your symptoms and apply the appropriate treatment protocol. If low phosphate is caused by nutrition, consuming foods rich in phosphorus and Vitamin D can help with treatment. If low phosphate is related to a medication used, your doctor may stop using the medication.
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