Mineral
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral contained in each cell in our body. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a recommended amount of Adults 19 years and older 700 mg, and an upper limit of Adults 19–70 years 4,000 mg. Read 2026-08-16.
What is Phosphorus?
"Phosphorus is a mineral contained in each cell in our body."
How much Phosphorus does NIH publish?
| Life stage | Amount | Printed table |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 19 years and older | 700 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Birth to 6 months | 100 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 1–3 years | 460 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 4–8 years | 500 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 9–13 years | 1,250 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Infants 7–12 months | 275 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Pregnant and breastfeeding teens | 1,250 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Pregnant and breastfeeding women | 700 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Teens 14–18 years | 1,250 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Adults 19–70 years | 4,000 mg | Upper Limit |
| Birth to 6 months | Not established | Upper Limit |
| Breastfeeding teens and women | 4,000 mg | Upper Limit |
| Children 1–3 years | 3,000 mg | Upper Limit |
| Children 4–8 years | 3,000 mg | Upper Limit |
| Children 9–13 years | 4,000 mg | Upper Limit |
| Infants 7–12 months | Not established | Upper Limit |
| Pregnant teens and women | 3,500 mg | Upper Limit |
| Teens 14–18 years | 4,000 mg | Upper Limit |
Children and teens
Rows for children and teens appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Rows for pregnant and breastfeeding life stages appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.
What upper limit does NIH publish for Phosphorus?
- Adults 19–70 years: 4,000 mg
- Birth to 6 months: Not established
- Breastfeeding teens and women: 4,000 mg
- Children 1–3 years: 3,000 mg
- Children 4–8 years: 3,000 mg
- Children 9–13 years: 4,000 mg
- Infants 7–12 months: Not established
- Pregnant teens and women: 3,500 mg
- Teens 14–18 years: 4,000 mg
Which foods contain Phosphorus?
NIH's fact sheet for Phosphorus carries no line we quote here about foods.
Where these numbers come from
Every quote and every amount on this page comes from National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Phosphorus — Consumer. Public domain (U.S. Government work). LAFYA read the sheet 2026-08-16.
Read the full fact sheet at NIH Office of Dietary SupplementsWhat LAFYA does not say about Phosphorus
LAFYA publishes no claim that phosphorus does anything in the body, because we cannot prove one.