Health Library Explorer
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A-Z Listings Contact Us
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Click a letter to see a list of conditions beginning with that letter.
Click 'Topic Index' to return to the index for the current topic.
Click 'Library Index' to return to the listing of all topics.

Phosphorus Restriction for Children

Controlling phosphorus in your child's diet

Most children with kidney (renal) failure need to limit the amount of phosphorus in foods they eat. The kidneys help remove excess phosphorus from your child's body. If the kidneys are not working well, excess phosphorus builds up in the blood and can cause calcium to leave the bones. This can make your child's bones weak and easy to break.

What foods are high in phosphorus?

The following foods are high in phosphorous and should be restricted if your child has kidney failure. Your child's healthcare provider or dietitian will tell you how much phosphorous your child can have each day.

  • Dairy products, including:

    • Milk (all kinds: whole, low-fat, skim, chocolate, and buttermilk)

    • Cheeses (all except cream cheese)

    • Puddings and custards

    • Yogurt

    • Ice cream

  • Meats, chicken, turkey, fish, and organ meats

  • Dried beans and peas, including:

    • Black-eyes

    • Field peas

    • Kidney

    • Navy

    • Northern

    • Pinto

    • Lima

  • Nuts (all kinds and peanut butter)

  • Seeds, bran, and whole-grain cereals and breads

Your child's healthcare provider may advise that your child take a phosphorus binder, such as calcium carbonate. When calcium is taken with meals and snacks it prevents the phosphorus in foods from being absorbed by the body. This will help keep your child's blood level of phosphorus at an acceptable level and help keep their bones healthy and strong. Be sure your child always takes their phosphorus binder as prescribed.

Online Medical Reviewer: Dan Brennan MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Walead Latif MD
Date Last Reviewed: 8/1/2023
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
Powered by StayWell
About StayWell | Disclaimer | Terms of Use

Our web site is designed to provide general information to educate users about programs and services, which may be available through our hospitals. The web site is not intended to provide medical advice nor should the information be used to attempt to determine the presence, absence or severity of any illness or medical condition which may be perceived or experienced by the user of this site. If you have or suspect you may have an illness or condition which you believe requires medical attention, we recommend you call your primary care physician. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency please call "911" (or your local medical emergency number) or seek immediate care from the nearest hospital Emergency Department. The provision of information to users of this web site is not intended as an inducement or to otherwise influence a person's decision to order or receive any item or service from a particular provider, practitioner or supplier that is reimbursable under Medicare, a state healthcare program (e.g., AHCCS) or any other healthcare plan.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at each facility, but are independent contractors who are neither employees nor agents of Tenet Florida Coastal Division; and, as a result, Tenet Florida Coastal Division is not responsible for the actions of any of these physicians in their medical practices.