Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 35 : Phosphorus

Food sources

Important food sources are milk, eggs, meat and fish while vegetables are fair sources. A greater part of the phosphorus present in cereals, pulses, nuts and oilseeds exists in the form of phytic acid or phytin.

Table: Important sources of phosphorus

Dietary sources	g/100g
Cereals, millets, pulses, nuts & oilseeds (present as phytate phosphorus)	0.2 – 0.65
Dried fish	1.2 – 1.3
Full fat milk powder	0.76 – 0.82
Skimmed milk powder	1.0 – 1.1
Meat, fish, egg	0.31 – 0.41
Fresh milk	0.09 – 0.11