Numerous supplements may help treat kidney disease. According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), chronic kidney disease includes conditions that injure your kidneys and impair their ability to function properly. Over time, kidney disease allows metabolic waste materials to accumulate in your blood, causing you to feel sick and leading to serious health complications. Before taking supplements to treat your kidney disease, consult with your physician about proper dosage and possible side effects.
Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract may be helpful for reducing kidney damage caused by kidney disease. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), the grape seeds used to produce grape seed extract are usually obtained from wine manufacturers. The leaves and fruit of the grape have been used as medicine since ancient Greece, notes the NCCAM. Grape seed extract contains antioxidants, which decrease cell damage caused by free radicals, or highly-reactive molecules that impair cell function. A 2006 study by I. M. El-Ashmawy and colleagues and published in the journal "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology" states that consumption of grape seed extract reduces kidney damage in mice by improving antioxidant activity. According to the NCCAM, grape seed extract is usually well tolerated when taken by mouth. Before taking this supplement, talk with your doctor about proper dosage and possible side effects.
Horsetail
Dietary supplementation with horsetail may be helpful for treating kidney disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) states that horsetail, also known as Equisetum arvense, is an herbal remedy that has been used for centuries to stop bleeding, heal wounds and ulcers and treat tuberculosis and kidney problems, including kidney stones. Horsetail is found throughout the temperate climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia. According to a 2007 study by R. Masteikova and colleagues published in the journal "Ceska a Slovenska Farmacie," horsetail herb extract, either alone or in conjunction with a mixture of herbs, produces a beneficial effect on renal, or kidney, function. Before taking horsetail to treat your kidney disease or improve the function of your kidneys, consult with your physician to discuss proper dosage and possible side effects.
Zinc
Zinc supplementation may be important if you have kidney disease. According to the UMMC, kidney disease may increase your need for zinc or affect how your body absorbs or uses zinc. Zinc is an essential trace mineral, which means you get zinc through the foods you consume. Zinc is found in almost every cell in your body. Zinc is involved in numerous biological processes, and it has antioxidant properties, which means that it protects your cells from damage caused by free radicals. The UMMC states that your body does not need a large amount of zinc. The recommended daily allowance for zinc in adults is 8 to 11 mg. Taking a multivitamin, along with consuming a healthy and balanced diet, should give you a sufficient amount of zinc. Before taking zinc supplements to help treat your kidney disease, talk with your doctor to discuss possible side effects and proper dosage.
References
- National Kidney Foundation: Kidney Disease
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Grape Seed Extract
- PubMed.gov: Grape Seed Extract Prevents Nephrotoxicity; I. M. El-Ashmawy et al.; September 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Horsetail
- PubMed.gov: Effects of Herbal Drugs on Selected Renal Functions; R. Masteikova et al.; April 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
