Phosphorus

What it is · too little · too much · daily reference values by country

For reference only. This is not a diagnosis or a prescription. If you have concerns, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

What it is

Phosphorus contributes to how cells use energy, regulation of the acid-base balance of body fluids, cell membrane structure, signaling in the body, and formation of hard tissues, among other things. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient and is involved in many physiological processes, such as the cell's energy cycle, regulation of the body's acid-base balance, cell regulation and signalling, and the mineralisation of bones and teeth. (European Food Safety Authority)

Getting too little

Phosphorus deficiency symptoms are quite rare in healthy people, but it is said that people with chronic illness or on total parenteral nutrition become more likely to run low on phosphorus the longer their illness lasts. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Reported symptoms of low phosphorus in humans include loss of appetite, muscle weakness, bone pain, ataxia, osteomalacia, rickets, anemia, weakened immunity, abnormal sensations, and confusion, among others, and in severe cases it is said to lead even to death. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Low phosphorus levels may be associated with conditions such as anorexia, anaemia, muscle weakness, bone pain, and others. (European Food Safety Authority)

Getting too much

The harmful effects of taking in too much phosphorus are mainly related to eating more processed foods, which increases phosphorus intake from food additives. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Health indicators that can appear with excess phosphorus intake include calcification and hyperphosphatemia, among others, and these are linked to cardiovascular disease, reduced kidney function, and problems with the nervous system and bone health. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)

Daily reference values by country

Korea · US · EU — tap to open

These tables are daily reference values for healthy people. Numbers in the text above are a different kind of value, and you cannot diagnose yourself from them. How to read RDA, AI and UL

Korea — 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Group	EAR	RNI	AI	UL
0–5 months			100 mg
6–11 months			300 mg
1–2 years	380 mg	450 mg		3000 mg
3–5 years	480 mg	600 mg		3000 mg
Male · 6–8 years	500 mg	600 mg		3000 mg
Male · 9–11 years	1000 mg	1200 mg		3500 mg
Male · 12–14 years	1000 mg	1200 mg		3500 mg
Male · 15–18 years	900 mg	1100 mg		3500 mg
Male · 19–29 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Male · 30–49 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Male · 50–64 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Male · 65–74 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Male · 75+ years	540 mg	650 mg		3000 mg
Female · 6–8 years	500 mg	600 mg		3000 mg
Female · 9–11 years	1000 mg	1200 mg		3500 mg
Female · 12–14 years	950 mg	1100 mg		3500 mg
Female · 15–18 years	850 mg	1000 mg		3500 mg
Female · 19–29 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Female · 30–49 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Female · 50–64 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Female · 65–74 years	540 mg	650 mg		3500 mg
Female · 75+ years	540 mg	650 mg		3000 mg
Pregnancy	+0 mg	+0 mg		3000 mg
Lactation	+0 mg	+0 mg		3500 mg

UL — applies to: Total intake from food and supplements combined.

US — NASEM (National Academies)

Group	EAR	RDA	AI	UL
1–3 years	380 mg	460 mg		3000 mg
4–8 years	405 mg	500 mg		3000 mg
Male · 9–13 years	1055 mg	1250 mg		4000 mg
Male · 14–18 years	1055 mg	1250 mg		4000 mg
Male · 19–30 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Male · 31–50 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Male · 51–70 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Male · 71+ years	580 mg	700 mg		3000 mg
Female · 9–13 years	1055 mg	1250 mg		4000 mg
Female · 14–18 years	1055 mg	1250 mg		4000 mg
Female · 19–30 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Female · 31–50 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Female · 51–70 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Female · 71+ years	580 mg	700 mg		3000 mg
Pregnancy · 14–18 years	1055 mg	1250 mg		3500 mg
Pregnancy · 19–30 years	580 mg	700 mg		3500 mg
Pregnancy · 31–50 years	580 mg	700 mg		3500 mg
Lactation · 14–18 years	1055 mg	1250 mg		4000 mg
Lactation · 19–30 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
Lactation · 31–50 years	580 mg	700 mg		4000 mg
0–6 months			100 mg	—
7–12 months			275 mg	—

UL — applies to: Unless otherwise specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water, and supplements.

EU — EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

Group	AI	UL
7–11 months	160 mg
1–3 years	250 mg
4–10 years	440 mg
11–17 years	640 mg
18+ years	550 mg	—
Pregnancy · 18–60 years	550 mg
Lactation · 18–60 years	550 mg
Pregnancy · 18+ years		—
Lactation · 18+ years		—

Sources

EFSA DRV Finder (Dietary Reference Values) · checked 2026-10-07
EFSA DRV Finder — nutrient descriptions · checked 2026-10-07
EFSA Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (v11, August 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, Vol. 3: Minerals (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans — summary tables (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes summary tables (Appendix J, 2019) · checked 2026-10-07

The sentences are plain-language summaries of official sources written by SuppleBoard. Each English sentence was checked against the source text by an AI reviewer before publishing. The agencies do not endorse this site. Published 2026-10-16.

Check my supplements Other nutrients