# Impact of Dietary Phosphate Excess on Exercise Capacity and Visceral Adiposity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $805,342

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is used in excess as a preservative and flavor enhancement in processed
foods. Accordingly, 25% US adult consume Pi at 3-4 fold higher than the recommended daily allowance on a
regular basis. While the impact of dietary Pi excess in the setting of chronic kidney disease has been well-
studied, its impact on human health in the general population remains incompletely understood. Our recent
study in mice demonstrated that dietary Pi loading that mimic the level of US adult consumption leads to
reduced spontaneous locomotor activity, exercise capacity, and reduced resting metabolic rate when in normal
mice by impairing skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and fat oxidation. These metabolic changes were
related to downregulation of numerous genes involved in fatty acid release, transport, and oxidation.
Furthermore, our pilot study from the third examination of the Dallas Heart Study (DHS-3) provided support for
the animal data as a robust association between higher dietary Pi intake and lower in vivo mitochondrial
function using 7-Tesla 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and oxygen uptake during exercise was
observed. More importantly, an association between higher dietary Pi intake and markers of insulin resistance,
including higher liver and muscle fat content was uncovered. Therefore, we propose an ancillary study to the
already funded 3rd examination of the DHS to test the impact of dietary Pi excess on physical activity and
cardiorespiratory fitness. We will also conduct a randomized crossover study to determine if this
phosphotoxicity on the muscle mitochondrial function and exercise capacity is restored by lowering dietary Pi
content, which is independent of total energy intake and other nutritional components. The proposed
translational studies in otherwise healthy humans have the potential to shift current clinical practice paradigms
by identifying phosphate as a key modifiable cardiometabolic risk factor in the general population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10464465
- **Project number:** 1R01HL159994-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jarett D Berry
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $805,342
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10464465

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10464465, Impact of Dietary Phosphate Excess on Exercise Capacity and Visceral Adiposity (1R01HL159994-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10464465. Licensed CC0.

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