‘Can the kidney diet provide your complete nutritional needs or do you require daily vitamin supplementation? Here, the Kidney (Renal) Dietitians discuss vitamins and chronic kidney disease’
1.Water soluble vitamins i.e. Vitamins B, C and Folate
2.Fat soluble vitamins i.e. Vitamins A, D, E, K
Vitamins play a part in controlling the body’s ability to burn fat and sugar for energy, and build proteins for growth. If vitamins are deficient, these reactions are not properly coordinated, and may cause, muscle weakness, fatigue and nerve pain. Following a balanced diet is the preferred way to get the recommended amount of these vitamins, however patients with kidney disease often cannot get enough of some vitamins,
Due to the above, patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage.) may require a daily vitamin supplement as well as a balanced, nutrient dense kidney diet.
Special renal vitamins are usually prescribed to patients to provide the extra water soluble vitamins needed. Discuss your requirement for vitamin supplementation with your Kidney (Renal) Dietitian.
Dietary Folic Acid (Folate) intake may be suboptimal due to;
Discuss your requirement for folic acid (folate) supplementation with your Kidney (Renal) Dietitian.
Vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium and phosphate and regulates the production of parathyroid hormone (a hormone that controls bone turnover). In Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage.”]CKD the kidney loses the ability to make active vitamin D. Supplementation with a special active vitamin D may be necessary. This is determined by blood levels of calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone (PTH ). Supplementation with native Vitamin D (inactive form) may also be required. Discuss the need for vitamin supplementation with your Kidney (Renal) Dietitian.
Yes, when the kidneys are not able to eliminate excess vitamins from your body they can build up to toxic levels, this is of particular concern for Vitamin A (fat soluble vitamin), which is contained in many over the counter multi-vitamin preparations.
Also, Vitamin C breaks down in the body into a crystal called oxalate. Healthy kidneys remove extra oxalate, but dialysis is much less effective. A build up of oxalate can cause bone and joint deposits and pain.
Only use the vitamin supplement approved by your Kidney (Renal) Dietitian.
Do not take an over the counter multi-vitamin supplement.
We are delighted to see this website coming from the Renal Interest Group – we regularly get calls from patients, and their families, seeking information on the renal diet and this will be a great resource.
I feel this informative website will empower patients to look at their own diet and strive to improve their quality of life. I wish to thank all involved in getting this of the ground.
I would like to congratulate the renal dietitians from the Renal Interest Group of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute for such a wonderful, informative, eye catching patient education site. Just Brilliant!