The kidneys are the organs responsible for removing waste products and excess water from the blood to produce urine. They also produce hormones, play a role in red blood cell formation and maintain a critical balance of salts in the blood. Individuals with kidney issues and kidney disease have special vitamin requirements and dietary limitations. When the kidneys are not functioning properly, waste products accumulate in the body and affect the metabolism of nutrients. Furthermore, medications for kidney disease and dialysis treatment change the requirements for some vitamins.
Vitamin D
Chronic kidney disease limits the body's ability to produce vitamin D, an essential vitamin for heart health, bone maintenance and immune function. Some dialysis patients will receive vitamin D along with their dialysis treatment. Others may be prescribed a vitamin D supplement. Discuss these options with your doctor before beginning any vitamin D supplement, since there are many different formulations and some may interact with your other medications.
B Vitamins
Patients with kidney disease may need to take a supplement containing the B vitamins, including vitamin B6, B12, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin. These essential vitamins are important for growth, development and a variety of processes in the body including energy production, DNA synthesis, heart and muscle function, immune function and red blood cell formation. Your health care provider may offer a vitamin B supplement by prescription.
Calcium
A common kidney affliction is the formation of a specific type of kidney stones that consist of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate crystals. Patients prone to calcium stones were previously told to limit their consumption of milk and dairy products. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, high calcium foods such as dairy products, may actually aid in the prevention of calcium stones. In contrast, calcium supplements do appear to increase the risk of kidney stones and are not recommended.
