Sodium phosphate - dibasic anhydrous
Also known as: Disodium hydrogen phosphate, disodium phosphate, sodium hydrogenphosphate, Na₂HPO₄, Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous
Overview
Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous is an inorganic salt with the chemical formula Na₂HPO₄. It is primarily synthesized for laboratory and industrial applications and does not naturally occur as a dietary supplement. Its main use is as a buffering agent to maintain stable pH in various biological and chemical media, such as cell cultures and biochemical assays. It also serves as a phosphorus source in specific applications like plant tissue culture, contributing to energy metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis in plants. This compound is a white, water-soluble powder known for its stable pH buffering capacity, typically around pH 8.7–9.3. While chemically well-characterized and widely utilized in scientific settings, there is a significant lack of clinical research supporting its use or safety as a direct dietary supplement for human consumption. Its value lies in its chemical properties for in vitro and industrial processes rather than direct human health benefits.
Benefits
There is no direct clinical evidence or established research supporting any benefits of sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a dietary supplement for human consumption. Its primary functional role is in maintaining pH stability in in vitro environments, such as laboratory buffers and industrial formulations. In specific applications like plant tissue culture, it provides essential phosphorus for plant growth and metabolic processes, but this effect is not translatable to human supplementation. The existing research focuses on its chemical and biochemical properties, buffering capacity, and utility in laboratory and industrial processes, not on human health outcomes. Therefore, no evidence-based benefits can be listed for human supplementation.
How it works
As a phosphate salt, sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous dissociates in aqueous solutions to release phosphate ions (HPO₄²⁻). These phosphate ions are integral components of buffering systems, which are crucial for maintaining stable pH levels in various solutions. This buffering action is achieved by the phosphate ions' ability to accept or donate protons, thereby neutralizing changes in acidity or alkalinity. While phosphate ions are essential nutrients involved in numerous biological processes within the human body, such as energy metabolism (e.g., ATP synthesis), cellular signaling, and bone mineralization, sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous itself has not been studied or shown to interact directly with human body systems as a supplement. Its mechanism of action is primarily observed in controlled in vitro or industrial settings.
Side effects
The safety profile of sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a dietary supplement for human consumption is not well-documented in clinical trials. It is generally recognized as safe for its intended laboratory and industrial uses, but its oral ingestion by humans as a supplement lacks established safety data. There are no reported common, uncommon, or rare side effects in clinical literature specifically for its use as a supplement. Similarly, no specific drug interactions or contraindications have been established for human supplementation. Due to the absence of clinical research, there are no special population considerations or comprehensive safety warnings available for its use in humans. It is crucial to note that while phosphate ions are vital for human health, the direct supplementation with sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous has not been clinically validated, and its safety for this purpose remains unproven.
Dosage
There are no established dosing guidelines for sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a dietary supplement for human consumption. Clinical research has not identified a minimum effective dose, optimal dosage ranges, or a maximum safe dose for this compound in humans. Consequently, there are no recommendations regarding timing of administration, form-specific considerations, or absorption factors relevant to human supplementation. The compound is typically used in laboratory-grade powder form for its chemical properties. Due to the complete lack of clinical data, no required cofactors or safety thresholds for human ingestion have been determined. Any use as a supplement would be unsupported by scientific evidence and without established safety parameters.
FAQs
Is sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous safe to consume as a supplement?
There is no clinical evidence supporting the use or safety of sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a dietary supplement for human consumption. Its safety profile for this purpose is not established.
What is its main use?
Its primary use is as a buffering agent in biological and chemical laboratory applications to maintain stable pH levels in solutions and media.
Can it affect pH in the human body?
While phosphate buffers regulate pH in vitro, oral ingestion of this specific compound as a supplement is not clinically validated to affect human body pH in a beneficial or controlled manner.
Is it the same as phosphate supplements used for bone health?
No, phosphate supplements for human use are typically in different chemical forms and dosages, with established safety profiles and clinical evidence for their intended purposes, unlike this compound.
Research Sources
- https://caissonlabs.com/product/sodium-phosphate-dibasic-anhydrous/ – This source describes sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as an inorganic salt used in plant tissue culture media as a phosphorus source and buffering agent. It highlights its role in providing essential nutrients for plant growth and maintaining pH stability in laboratory settings.
- https://www.rpicorp.com/products/buffers/biological-buffers-r-s/sodium-phosphate-dibasic-anhydrous-25-kg.html – This source details sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a biological buffer. It emphasizes its utility in maintaining stable pH for various biological applications, indicating its importance in laboratory and research environments for precise experimental conditions.
- https://www.jostchemical.com/products/sodium/productcode2770/ – This source provides information on sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a high-purity chemical ingredient. It focuses on its specifications and quality for industrial and pharmaceutical applications, underscoring its role as a raw material in various manufacturing processes.
- https://www.spectrumchemical.com/sodium-phosphate-dibasic-anhydrous-technical-s1403 – This source describes sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous as a technical grade chemical. It outlines its general characteristics and uses, reinforcing its primary application as a chemical reagent and buffering agent in non-food or non-supplement contexts.
- https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/mm/106559 – This source from Sigma-Aldrich provides detailed chemical specifications for sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous. It confirms its identity as a laboratory reagent, emphasizing its purity and suitability for analytical and research purposes, not for human consumption.