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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Simus on September 21, 2004, at 23:21:19
Hey all, I have had a question in my mind for some time now...
I bought what I thought was a good calcium/magnesium/zinc combo from a reputable company. The thing that puzzles me is that the the side label shows 500mg of phosphorus also. This is what is on the side label:
Vitamin D (as ergocalciferol)...200 I.U.Calcium (as calcium hydroxyapatite, citrate, aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate, lysinate)...1000mg
Phosphorus (as calcium hydroxyapatite)...500mg
Magnesium (as magnusium aspartate, oxide, citrate, taurinate, alpha-ketoglutarate)...500mg
Zinc (as zinc citrate, histidinate, picolinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, aspartate)...25mg
I am wondering if phosphorus is even something I should even be taking, especially in this quantity. Also, I am wondering why the phosphorus isn't listed on the front label... Hmmm... Any words of wisdom???Simus
Posted by raybakes on September 22, 2004, at 7:18:30
In reply to Phosphorus?, posted by Simus on September 21, 2004, at 23:21:19
Hi, not sure what the optimum level or phosphorus is, but phosphorus in the form of phosphate is essential for energy and bones. The energy (krebs) cycle is called 'oxidative phosphorylation' and uses the energy from glucose to add phosphate to adenosine to make ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Bones are constructed of calcium phosphate, and a lot metabolic processes require phosphorylation too - B6 for example needs phosphate to activate it to pyridoxal 5 phosphate.
Too much phosphate can be bad as it can pull calcium from the bone to buffer it - so the large amounts of phosphoric acid in colas can be a problem for long term bone health..
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 22, 2004, at 9:50:14
In reply to Phosphorus?, posted by Simus on September 21, 2004, at 23:21:19
> Hey all, I have had a question in my mind for some time now...
>
> I bought what I thought was a good calcium/magnesium/zinc combo from a reputable company. The thing that puzzles me is that the the side label shows 500mg of phosphorus also. This is what is on the side label:
>
>
> Vitamin D (as ergocalciferol)...200 I.U.
>
> Calcium (as calcium hydroxyapatite, citrate, aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate, lysinate)...1000mg
>
> Phosphorus (as calcium hydroxyapatite)...500mg
>
> Magnesium (as magnusium aspartate, oxide, citrate, taurinate, alpha-ketoglutarate)...500mg
>
> Zinc (as zinc citrate, histidinate, picolinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, aspartate)...25mg
>
>
> I am wondering if phosphorus is even something I should even be taking, especially in this quantity. Also, I am wondering why the phosphorus isn't listed on the front label... Hmmm... Any words of wisdom???
>
> SimusYa. The chemical formula for calcium hydroxyapatite is 3Ca3(PO4)2.Ca(OH)2. The dot in the middle means it's in a crystal structure, not chemically bound.
In practical terms, all it means is the supplement contains bone meal. Ya, the same stuff gardeners use under their bulbs.
What suprises me is the ratio of calcium mass to phosphorus mass. In bone meal, the calcium mass is roughly twice the phosphorus mass, with the balance tipping to phosporus. In other words, to account for the labelled mass of phosphorus from hydroxyapatite, you'd account for more than all the calcium labelled, without considering the other forms of calcium that are supposed to be there.
Maybe they meant phosphate? Phosphate mass is much higher than phosphorus mass. I dunno.
In any case, phosphate is a good thing, and your body can quite efficiently handle the chemistry.
Lar
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