Salivary phosphorus and phosphate content of beverages: implications for the treatment of uremic hyperphosphatemia.

BACKGROUND

Hyperphosphatemia provides relevant and dangerous evidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients undergoing periodic hemodialysis. The relationship between hyperphosphatemia and cardiovascular calcification, with the consequences of high morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular events, is well-defined. Hyperphosphatemia is treated by dietary limitation of phosphorus ingestion and by phosphate binders, but only half of ESRD patients fall within the range of K/DOQI guidelines.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

We summarize the results of our studies on salivary phosphate secretion in hemodialysis (HD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and on the habit of HD patients to drink beverages with a high or low phosphate content. We also examine the correlation between hyperphosphoremia and the phosphate content of common beverages consumed by HD patients.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of salivary phosphate secretion were found in HD and in CKD patients, along with a relationship between serum phosphorus levels and a high phosphate content of beverages in HD patients.