A healthy body benefits from vitamins and minerals, but individuals with kidney problems or kidney disease may especially need certain vitamins and minerals. The kidneys utilize and work with different vitamins to function, and certain vitamin-rich foods can be beneficial for kidney function. While foods and vitamins are not a substitute for medications for kidney function, they can help promote kidney health. Talking to medical professional about vitamins that can benefit the kidneys can help with choosing kidney-friendly foods.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is typically added to foods, since very few foods naturally contain it. However, it is also made by the human body when an individual is exposed to sunlight. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements explains that vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium in the gut and helps bone growth and remodeling, has anti-inflammatory effects and aids in immune function. As kidney function gets worse, they do not make enough vitamin D, says the American Association of Kidney Patients. Without adequate vitamin D, rickets or osteomalacia can occur, leading to soft and weak bones, impaired immune function, and weak muscles, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D can be obtained in the diet through fortified milk, juice and cereals, salmon, tuna, egg yolks and some margarines.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is important in maintaining kidney health, says Marlev Homeopathy. This vitamin is also important in immune system functioning; healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes; and vision and growth, according to the Ohio State University. Dietary sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, mangoes and spinach. Some kinds of milk and cereals are also fortified with this vitamin.
Zinc
Zinc is in many bodily tissues, including the kidneys, and is also excreted in urine. This mineral promotes wound healing, helps with growth, helps hydrate the skin and aids the body with the senses of smell and taste, states Drugs.com. The National Kidney Foundation also states that zinc helps the body utilize foods that are consumed. Zinc can be found in food sources like oysters, beef shanks, Alaskan king crab, fortified cereals, lobster and chicken. When the body is deficient in zinc, immune system function is impaired, growth retardation may occur along with loss of appetite, and delayed wound healing and mental lethargy may be present.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C may be suggested to individuals with kidney disease to help keep tissues healthy, says the National Kidney Foundation. This vitamin, also called ascorbic acid, is found in many tissues of the body, including bones, cartilage and muscle, and helps the body absorb iron, according to the Mayo Clinic. It also aids in boosting immunity by encouraging the production of white blood cells. Foods containing vitamin C include orange juice, grapefruit juice, oranges and grapefruits, red peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and potatoes.
References
- National Kidney Foundation: Vitamins and Minerals in Kidney Disease
- Marlev Homeopathy: Vitamins and Minerals
- The Ohio State University: Vitamin A
- American Association for Kidney Patients: Diabetes and your kidneys
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- Drugs.com: Zinc
