Phosphates

A study was just published (Journal of Cancer Prevention Research) suggesting a link between high dietary phosphate intake and skin cancer. An overabundance of phosphate has already been correlated with lung cancer and the breakdown of bone within mice.

Technically, phosphate is good for us. It creates the physical support for our bones, it's the chemical backbone of DNA, and it's bond provides energy to cells (ATP- adenosine triphosphate). Additionally, many oncogenes, the motors driving cancer cells to divide, are regulatory enzymes that attach phosphate to other proteins. Depending on the protein, phosphate will either turn up or turn down their activity level. For example, in the presence of high phosphate levels bone cells divide more quickly and produce more osteopontin, a protein linked to the breakdown of bone, and other cancer-related proteins.

So how are Americans taking in 1,334 mg of phosphate when an adult daily allowance is recommended at 700 mg? It's in all the stuff that tastes good! Soft drinks (esp. cola), fruit syrup drinks, candy, ice cream, cookies and cakes meant to have a shelf life, processed cheese, frozen pizzas, and processed meat (hot dogs, deli meat). Phosphate is also found in whole foods like dairy, meat, fish, and legumes.

Don't worry about getting too much phosphate from whole foods, the effects are balanced by the presence of other minerals and nutrients. However, if your diet is heavy in soda and processed foods you're at risk for being fat, having osteoporosis, and now possibly getting cancer.