The human response to acute phosphate (PO4) loading is poorly characterized, and it is unknown whether an intestinal phosphate sensor mechanism exists. Here, we characterized the human mineral and endocrine response to parenteral and duodenal acute phosphate loads. Healthy human participants underwent 36 hours of intravenous (IV; 1.15 [low dose] and 2.30 [high dose] mmol of PO4/kg per 24 hours) or duodenal (1.53 mmol of PO4/kg per 24 hours) neutral sodium PO4 loading. Control experiments used equimolar NaCl loads. Maximum PO4 urinary excretory responses occurred between 12 and 24 hours and were similar for low-dose IV and duodenal infusion. Hyperphosphatemic responses were also temporally and quantitatively similar for low-dose IV and duodenal PO4 infusion. Fractional renal PO4 clearance increased approximately 6-fold (high-dose IV group) and 4-fold (low-dose IV and duodenal groups), and significant reductions in plasma PO4 concentrations relative to peak values occurred by 36 hours, despite persistent PO4 loading. After cessation of loading, frank hypophosphatemia occurred. The earliest phosphaturic response occurred after plasma PO4 and parathyroid hormone concentrations increased. Plasma fibroblast growth factor-23 concentration increased after the onset of phosphaturia, followed by a decrease in plasma 1,25(OH)2D levels; a-Klotho levels did not change. Contrary to results in rodents, we found no evidence for intestinal-specific phosphaturic control mechanisms in humans. Complete urinary phosphate recovery in the IV loading groups provides evidence against any important extrarenal response to acute PO4 loads. Plasma phosphate (PO4) concentration is regulated within narrow limits and is the result of intestinal absorption, influx into and efflux from bone, renal excretion, and modest intestinal secretion. 1 Rapid changes in transcellular distribution are effected primarily by systemic acid-base equilibrium and hormones such as insulin and catecholamines. 2 1,25(OH) 2 D stimulates intestinal PO4 absorption, 4 while parathyroid hormone (PTH) and osteocytederived fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) are the best-characterized phosphaturic factors. Both inhibit proximal tubular sodium-dependent PO4 reabsorption (via Na/PO4 cotransport, NaPi2a and NaPi2c). 5,6 In addition, a-Klotho is a renal transmembrane and secreted protein that functions as an FGF-23 coreceptor and is phosphaturic independently of However, the relative roles of other phosphaturic agents, such as secreted frizzled related protein (sFRP-4), matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein, and FGF-8 are not yet defined in humans.1,25(OH) 2 D, PTH, and FGF-23 regulate PO4 metabolism within a complex system of positive and negative feedback mechanisms (for review, see Bergwitz and Jüppner 8 ). Increases in plasma PO4 concentration stimulate PTH secretion, while proximal tubule 1a-hydroxylase and, therefore,