Excessive Intake Of Phosphate-Rich Foods May Be Contributing To Hypertension

Austrian researchers have found that phosphate, found naturally in foods and used extensively in food processing, may be contributing to high blood pressure. The researchers showed that the hormone FGF23 is produced when large amounts of phosphates are consumed. The hormone, which controls renal secretion and reabsorption of sodium, has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system by increasing stress on the heart. The researchers concluded that inhibition of FGF23 or its pathway could help bring cardiovascular disease and vascular calcification under control.