Diet For Kidney Problems - Vitamin D And Kidney Disease

You might know that the sun and particular foods are good sources of vitamin D

. But did you know that because of chronic kidney disease, millions of Americans cannot convert the type of vitamin D generated by the sun or found in food and over-the-counter vitamins into the active type of vitamin D used by the body? This implies that even if you're consuming vitamin D pills, getting sufficient sunlight or eating foods rich in vitamin D, your bones and organs may be at risk because of a deficiency in "active" vitamin D.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which kidney function slows and the kidneys stop carrying out vital jobs for example filtering toxins from the bloodstream.

The severity of CKD is classified in stages, with stage 5, also known as kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), being the most severe. Patients with ESRD need dialysis, a procedure where a number of times a week for several hours their bloodstream is routed through a machine that filters toxins.

So what does CKD have to do with vitamin D, let alone your bones?

Before the body can make use of vitamin D, it has to be "activated". Inactive vitamin D - the vitamin D you get in the form of over-the-counter pills, food or sunlight- is activated by two steps, one in the liver and the other in the kidneys.

For people with CKD, nevertheless, their kidneys' capability to activate sufficient amounts of vitamin D deteriorates as their overall kidney function diminishes. Actually, people with kidney disease may eventually lose the capability to activate vitamin D altogether.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism

If levels of active vitamin D are low or insufficient within the body, a severe complication of CKD known as secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) can take place. SHPT can lead to a wide range of problems, including damage to bones and numerous vital organs.

How is SHPT prevented and treated?

When CKD and SHPT are detected early, the problems might be managed and disease progression might be slowed.

Keep in mind, individuals with stage 3 or 4 CKD who develop SHPT cannot convert vitamin D into its active form within their own kidneys. Specialists advise that these patients with stage 3 or 4 CKD and SHPT take an activated type of vitamin D medication-which is available only by prescription-to correct their vitamin D deficiency and thereby treat SHPT. Managing SHPT lowers danger for bone loss or fracture, cardiac complications and harmful mineral and hormonal imbalances.

by: James Lockwood

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