The relationship between dietary phosphorus and peripheral neuropathy in the general population of the United States: A preliminary research

TL;DR

This study explores how dietary phosphorus intake is linked to peripheral neuropathy in the U.S. general population, finding a U-shaped relationship.

Contribution

The study is among the first to investigate the association between dietary phosphorus and peripheral neuropathy, revealing a non-linear relationship.

Findings

A U-shaped non-linear relationship was found between dietary phosphorus intake and peripheral neuropathy risk.

Both low and high phosphorus intake levels were associated with increased PN risk.

The threshold for increased PN risk was identified at dietary phosphorus intake exceeding 939.44mg.

Abstract

Dietary phosphorus intake may serve as a potential predictor for peripheral neuropathy (PN). While past research has predominantly focused on the relationship between dietary phosphorus and bone health, relatively little is known about its role in the nervous system, particularly its association with PN.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from NHANES 1999–2004. Participants were categorized into different dietary phosphorus intake groups, and the relationship between dietary phosphorus and PN was explored using multifactorial logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS) analysis, and threshold effect analysis based on dietary intake.

The final study included 7726 participants, with 1378 diagnosed with PN and 6348 without. The study revealed a U-shaped non-linear relationship between dietary calcium and magnesium intake levels and PN, indicating that both excessive and insufficient dietary phosphorus intake may increase the risk of PN. Specifically, the incidence rates in the first quintile (1.433, 95% CI: 1.080–1.901), the fourth quintile (1.284, 95% CI: 1.000–1.648), and the fifth quintile (1.533, 95% CI: 1.155–2.035) significantly higher than the second quintile, with an overall trend showing a decrease followed by an increase in incidence rates. The results of RCS and threshold effect analysis indicate that when dietary phosphorus intake is below 939.44mg, the risk of PN decreases with increasing dietary phosphorus intake. On the contrary, when dietary phosphorus intake exceeds 939.44mg, the risk of PN increases with increasing dietary phosphorus intake.

This study reveals a U-shaped correlation between dietary phosphorus intake and PN. Future research should further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this association, providing guidance for more scientifically informed dietary adjustments to prevent the occurrence of PN.

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