WHAT IS PHOSPHORUS AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? (adapted for Chinese translation) Phosphorus is a mineral. It is found in How Can I Control My Phosphorus? milk products, meat, poultry, fish, legumes (dried peas, beans and lentils), nuts, • Diet: Eat a diet that is lower in seeds, and whole grains. It is also used as phosphorus. Ask your dietitian to an additive in many processed foods and review your diet with you. drinks. • Phosphorus binders: Your doctor Phosphorus and calcium work together to may prescribe phosphorus binders keep your bones and teeth strong. Healthy such as calcium carbonate (Tums™, kidneys remove extra phosphorus from Apocal™), calcium acetate, Renagel™ your body. or Fosrenol™ to be taken with meals, snacks, and nutritional supplements When you have kidney disease, the such as Ensure Plus™, Nepro™, and phosphorus from your diet may build up in Glucerna™. your blood. Over time, high phosphorus levels cause calcium to be taken out of • Dialysis: If you are on hemodialysis, your bones and bones can become weak do not miss or shorten your dialysis and break easily. Calcium and phosphorus treatments. If you are on peritoneal can form crystals in your skin, blood dialysis, follow your prescribed dialysis vessels, heart, lungs, brain and eyes. This schedule. can cause itch, joint pain, hardening of the arteries and damage to muscles and organs. Dialysis removes some phosphorus from your body, but not as much as healthy kidneys do. BC Provincial Renal Agency • Email:
[email protected] • Web: BCRenalAgency.ca March 2018 Created by the Renal Registered Dietitians Group Page 1 of 6 How do i eat less phosphorus? (adapted for Chinese translation) Limit or avoid high phosphorus foods: • Products containing phosphorus • Bran muffins additives.