Impact of Poverty on Serum Phosphate Concentrations in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Objective: Increased serum phosphate is associated with adverse health outcomes. High intake of inexpensive processed and fast foods is common in impoverished communities, and is linked with excessive dietary phosphorus intake and elevated serum phosphate concentrations in chronic kidney disease patients. We examined the impact of socioeconomic status on dietary phosphorus intake and serum phosphate concentrations in the general population. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: A total of 14,261 adult participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Predictors and Outcomes: Poverty to income ratio (PIR; family income indexed to the federal poverty level) was the primary index of socioeconomic status. Serum phosphate was the primary outcome variable. Results: Although estimated phosphorus intake decreased with decreasing quartiles of PIR (P 300% of the federal poverty level), participants in the lowest quartile (income