NCIt definition : The carbonate salt of lanthanum, a silvery white metallic element of the lanthanoids
family, with phosphate binding property. Lanthanum carbonate dissociates in gastric
acid to release lanthanum ions, which then binds dietary phosphate. This agent inhibits
the absorption of phosphate by forming highly insoluble lanthanum-phosphate complexes
that reduce concentrations of serum phosphate and calcium phosphate.;