Regulation of C‐terminal and intact FGF‐23 by dietary phosphate in men and women

SAM Burnett, SC Gunawardene… - Journal of Bone and …, 2006 - academic.oup.com
SAM Burnett, SC Gunawardene, FR Bringhurst, H Jüppner, H Lee, JS Finkelstein
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2006academic.oup.com
FGF‐23 is a novel regulator of phosphate metabolism. We studied the regulation of FGF‐23
by dietary phosphate in 66 men and women using two assays. Dietary phosphate restriction
decreased FGF‐23 and loading increased FGF‐23 significantly. An assay that measured
intact FGF‐23 showed the effects of dietary phosphate much more clearly than an assay that
also measures presumed biologically inactive fragments. Dietary phosphate is a key
regulator of circulating FGF‐23; choice of assay is critical when studying FGF‐23 physiology …
Abstract
FGF‐23 is a novel regulator of phosphate metabolism. We studied the regulation of FGF‐23 by dietary phosphate in 66 men and women using two assays. Dietary phosphate restriction decreased FGF‐23 and loading increased FGF‐23 significantly. An assay that measured intact FGF‐23 showed the effects of dietary phosphate much more clearly than an assay that also measures presumed biologically inactive fragments. Dietary phosphate is a key regulator of circulating FGF‐23; choice of assay is critical when studying FGF‐23 physiology.
Introduction: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF‐23) is a novel phosphaturic factor discovered through genetic studies of patients with renal phosphate wasting disorders. Ablation of the FGF‐23 gene in mice reduces renal phosphate excretion and increases serum phosphate, suggesting that FGF‐23 is critical for normal phosphate homeostasis. We examined the role of dietary phosphate in the regulation of FGF‐23 in humans.
Materials and Methods: Sixty‐six healthy males and females were randomized to either phosphate‐depleted or ‐loaded diets for 5 days, after a 4‐day run‐in diet. FGF‐23 was measured using an “intact” assay that only detects intact FGF‐23 peptide and with a “C‐terminal” assay that measures both intact FGF‐23 peptide and presumed biologically inactive carboxyl terminal fragments. The main outcome was the within group change in FGF‐23 with either phosphate depletion or loading.
Results: Using the intact FGF‐23 assay, mean FGF‐23 area under the curve (AUC) decreased by 9 ± 16% with phosphate depletion (p = 0.0041) and increased by 35 ± 29% with loading (p < 0.0001). Using the C‐terminal FGF‐23 assay, mean FGF‐23 AUC decreased by 8 ± 12% with phosphate depletion (p = 0.0003) and increased by 13 ± 20% with loading (p = 0.0016). Increases in FGF‐23 with phosphate loading were greater with the intact assay than with the C‐terminal assay (p = 0.0003). Using the intact assay only, FGF‐23 was significantly associated with serum phosphate (r = 0.39, p < 0.01), 24‐h urinary phosphate (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), fractional excretion of phosphate (r = 0.29, p < 0.01), and 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D (r = −0.30, p < 0.01). The association between the assays was weak (r = 0.26, p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Dietary phosphate is a key regulator of circulating FGF‐23 levels in humans. Additionally, choice of assay is critical when performing physiologic investigations of FGF‐23.
Oxford University Press