Phosphorus Levels in the Blood and Heart Disease

Recently, U.S. researchers studied phosphorus levels in the blood and its relation to coronary artery calcification (or CAC), which is an early indicator of hardening arteries and heart disease. During this study, known as the Spokane Heart Study, 900 healthy adults were tested as part of this long-term investigation of heart disease risk factors.

At the beginning, out of those 900 adults, 28 percent of them had CAC. Six years later, another 33 percent showed signs of CAC, and the levels of those who already had it had also increased. The researchers were able to attribute this increase in CAC to increases in phosphorus blood levels in the participants. The researchers found out that the association between phosphorous levels in the blood and the occurrence of CAC is strong; even small increases of phosphorous predicted risks of CAC.

Something else the study covered was the link between kidney health and the occurrence of CAC. Researchers found out that people with lower kidney function are more likely to have progressive CAC. The researchers hope that their results can help explain why early-stage chronic kidney disease is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, a link which has not yet been explained by traditional risk factors.