Sodium phosphates

Studies in people

• Concern

  Heart and blood vessel health³

  In people, eating more phosphate can raise fibroblast growth factor 23, which may affect blood vessels.

• Benefit

  Heart and breathing during exercise⁵

  In cyclists, sodium phosphates lowered heart rate and raised stroke volume during low and moderate exercise in thin air.

• Open question

  Repeated-sprint performance⁶

  In team-sport males, sodium phosphates may improve repeated-sprint times versus placebo, though results were not significant.

• No harm found

  Appetite and energy intake⁹

  In trained people, taking sodium phosphate for six days did not change how much they ate.

• Concern

  Stomach upset and mineral changes¹¹

  In eight adults, eating foods with phosphate additives caused stomach upset and changes in blood and urine.

How it’s made and used

• Cycling endurance⁴

  In cyclists, sodium phosphates did not change 20 km times, though breathing and effort ratings rose slightly.

• Sprint speed in team sports⁷

  In female players, sodium phosphates helped them sprint faster during a simulated team game.

• Exercise performance⁸

  In cyclists, taking sodium phosphates again after a break raised peak oxygen uptake more than the first round did.

• Cycling performance¹⁰

  In trained cyclists, sodium phosphate supplements improved sprint and time-trial cycling efforts for days afterward.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.