The kidneys play a vital role in your health. They filter waste products from your blood and make urine, the vehicle through which those waste products leave your body, as well as helping your body balance its volume of fluids and minerals and producing hormones that trigger the production of red blood cells. There are nutrients you need to keep the kidneys functioning as they should, whether your kidneys are healthy or you're facing a health problem.
Vitamin A
Making sure you get enough vitamin A in your diet has lifelong implications for kidney health. Research published in the January 2001 issue of Nature Genetics offers evidence that a pregnant woman with a vitamin A deficiency suffers a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with malformations of its kidneys. A lack of vitamin A in the diet may also play a role in your chances of developing kidney stones, a substance that forms when minerals in your body do not dissolve fully in the urine or when your urine's pH balance is too high or too low, according to the Mother Nature website. These stones cause pain as they pass through your body. The Whole Health MD website notes that taking vitamin A may discourage your body from forming kidney stones and recommends that you eat foods high in beta-carotene, such as spinach and carrots, because it converts to vitamin A. The DaVita website indicates that patients with chronic kidney disease rarely need vitamin A supplementation because levels are generally elevated when the kidneys stop working. If you have kidney disease, consult your doctor before increasing your vitamin A levels to avoid taking too much, which can be toxic. The recommended daily intake is 700 to 900IU per day.
Magnesium
Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, plays an important role in kidney health. This nutrient may help your body prevent kidney stones. The Mother Nature website says that if you eat a lot of calcium in your diet but have low levels of magnesium, you may run a higher risk of developing these painful stones. Research published in the December 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology cites a link between magnesium deficiency and kidney stones, although it notes that your age and body size impact your risk of developing kidney stones from dietary deficiencies, so the amount of magnesium you may need will vary. If you suffer from kidney disease, magnesium intake becomes problematic, according the Office of Dietary Supplements. Because your kidneys remove excess magnesium from your body, decreased kidney function allows magnesium to build up, making magnesium toxicity more of a risk. The daily recommended intake of magnesium ranges from 310 to 420mg per day.
Vitamin C
Taking vitamin C can provide benefits for the health of your kidneys, especially if you're prone to kidney stones. The Doctor Yourself website indicates that taking vitamin C can cure kidney stones in larger doses by improving your body's effectiveness in ridding itself of uric acid, which can encourage the formation of stones. If you've suffered kidney damage or have chronic kidney disease, you may need more vitamin C as well. The DaVita website recommends a dosage of 60 to 100mg per day for chronic kidney disease patients. This nutrient helps keep your tissues healthy, including the tissues of your kidneys, in addition to preventing infections, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
References
- Whole Health MD: Kidney Stones
- Urology Notes: Kidney Stones
- DaVita: The ABCs of Vitamins for Kidney Patients
- Kidney Times: How Your Kidneys Work and the Five Stages of Chronic Disease
- National Kidney Foundation: Vitamins and Minerals in Kidney Disease
- PubMed: Dietary Factors and the Risk of Incident Kidney Stones in Men
