GLOSSARY

Hyperphosphatemia is a blood concentration above the relevant reference, potentially reflecting altered excretion, distribution or clinical conditions.

Low blood phosphate can accompany severe undernutrition, refeeding-related cellular uptake, some medicines or losses; kidney impairment can contribute to high phosphate. These conditions are not equivalent to one meal's phosphorus content. Severe weakness and underlying illness need assessment. Unsupervised phosphate is not a general energy aid: correction depends on cause, severity and accompanying electrolytes rather than the desired training effect alone.

Essentiality does not make any amount harmless. Chemical form, dose, duration, kidney or liver function and medicines affect risk. High intake and established toxicity are not identical, but overlapping supplements should be identified before symptoms occur. A therapeutic dose for a defined condition is not a routine recommendation for every athlete, and a larger intake does not necessarily produce a better outcome.

Concentration is substance per volume, distinct from total body content. Water shifts can raise or lower a value without a proportional change in total element amount. Unit conversion also distinguishes mass from particle quantity; ion charge matters for some units. Interpretation after exercise therefore considers sampling time and fluid status rather than relying solely on the printed laboratory number.