Ideas in this flowchart

• Phosphate intake and dietary reference values in Americans
• Most Americans are not at risk for phosphate deficiency compared with calcium deficiency.
• Common dietary sources of phosphate
• Phosphate occurs in meat, fish, dairy products, processed foods, and beverages.
• Functions of added phosphate in foods
• Added phosphate acts as an emulsifying agent, prevents clumping, improves texture and taste, and extends shelf-life.
• Average phosphorus intake in US adults
• US adults consume approximately 1,000–1,500 milligrams per day, above the 700-milligram daily RDA.
• Tolerable Upper Intake Level for adults
• The UL is 4,000 milligrams per day for adults and 3,000 milligrams per day for people over age seventy.
• Dietary Reference Intakes by age group
• Infants 0–6 months: RDA 100 milligrams per day.
• Infants 6–12 months: RDA 275 milligrams per day.
• Children 1–3 years: RDA 460 milligrams and UL 3,000 milligrams per day.
• Children 4–8 years: RDA 500 milligrams and UL 3,000 milligrams per day.
• Children 9–13 years: RDA 1,250 milligrams and UL 4,000 milligrams per day.
• Adolescents 14–18 years: RDA 1,250 milligrams and UL 4,000 milligrams per day.
• Adults 19–70 years: RDA 700 milligrams and UL 4,000 milligrams per day.
• Adults over 70 years: RDA 700 milligrams and UL 3,000 milligrams per day.
• An asterisk denotes Adequate Intake rather than an RDA.