Phosphorus (See also MBD)
Function
Needed for healthy bones and teeth, energy metabolism, and acid base balance in the body.
Deficiency
Phosphorus is widespread in plant and animal tissue, but in some plants may be bound up in an unavailable form known as phytates.
Toxicity
Levels of phosphorus are controlled in the body as they are for calcium, the two being in equal and opposite equilibrium with each other. Therefore if dietary phosphorus levels exceed calcium levels appreciably the parathyroid glands become stimulated to produce more parathyroid hormone and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs. Phosphorus influences the bioavialability of calcium as it binds with Calcium to form an insoluble salt which is deposited in the bones thereby reducing the useable levels of Calcium. This leads to progressive bone demineralisation and renal damage due to high circulating levels of parathyroid hormone. High phosphorus reduces the amount of calcium which can be absorbed from the gut, as it complexes with calcium present there. This is a problem in reptiles fed pure meat with no calcium or bone supplement, and in herbivores which are predominantly fruit and lettuce consumers as these are high phosphorus low calcium foods. Furthermore, low calcium / high phosphorus diets frequently allow bladder stones to form.
Prevention
Animals must be given the correct phosphorus to calcium ratio through appropriate feeding and correct supplementation.
Needed for healthy bones and teeth, energy metabolism, and acid base balance in the body.
Deficiency
Phosphorus is widespread in plant and animal tissue, but in some plants may be bound up in an unavailable form known as phytates.
Toxicity
Levels of phosphorus are controlled in the body as they are for calcium, the two being in equal and opposite equilibrium with each other. Therefore if dietary phosphorus levels exceed calcium levels appreciably the parathyroid glands become stimulated to produce more parathyroid hormone and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs. Phosphorus influences the bioavialability of calcium as it binds with Calcium to form an insoluble salt which is deposited in the bones thereby reducing the useable levels of Calcium. This leads to progressive bone demineralisation and renal damage due to high circulating levels of parathyroid hormone. High phosphorus reduces the amount of calcium which can be absorbed from the gut, as it complexes with calcium present there. This is a problem in reptiles fed pure meat with no calcium or bone supplement, and in herbivores which are predominantly fruit and lettuce consumers as these are high phosphorus low calcium foods. Furthermore, low calcium / high phosphorus diets frequently allow bladder stones to form.
Prevention
Animals must be given the correct phosphorus to calcium ratio through appropriate feeding and correct supplementation.
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