Unfortunately, there are no magic supplements to ward off renal failure. However, supplements do play a role in management of renal failure and in possibly slowing down the progression of renal disease. If you have renal disease, scrupulous caution is required to prevent vitamin toxicity because impaired kidneys do not necessarily excrete these supplements the same way that healthy ones do.
Definitions
The term "renal failure" is used two ways. It can describe patients whose kidney function is so low that dialysis or a transplant is necessary to sustain life. It is also used to describe patients with only moderate impairment. The term "renal insufficiency" describes this latter category of patients more accurately.
Fish Oil
Ever since James Donadio Jr.'s landmark 1999 paper in the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology," kidney patients have asked about fish oil. Donadio's research suggested that high doses of fish oil retard the progression of a chronic kidney disease called IgA nephropathy in patients who have mild renal insufficiency. Donadio's results are by no means conclusive and his work needs to be replicated. In the meantime, many nephrologists recommend the high doses of fish oil that Donadio gave to his research subjects.
Renal Vitamins
Patients who approach end-stage disease are often malnourished because many vegetables, legumes and dairy products contain too much potassium or phosphorus for them to be eaten safely. Nephrologists often prescribe specially formulated renal vitamins to address this problem. These vitamins supply B vitamins, a modest amount of vitamin C and a form of biologically active vitamin D. They intentionally exclude vitamin A, potassium and phosphorus because patients with advanced kidney diseases already have high levels of these nutrients.
Warning
The nutritional needs of kidney patients are very complex. Many nutritious foods, such as broccoli, squash, milk and soybeans can cause true medical emergencies when eaten in excess by kidney patients with advanced disease. Deciding what foods are appropriate can involve making nutritional trade-offs. The only way to safely navigate through this maze of difficult decisions is with the advice of your nephrologist or renal dietitian.
References
- Foundation for IgA Nephropathy: Chronic Renal Insufficiency
- Foundation for IgA Nephropathy: Fish Oil
- "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology;" The Long-Term Outcome of Patients with IgA Nephropathy Treated with Fish Oil in a Controlled Trial; James V. Donadio, MD; Aug, 1999
- Davita: The ABCs of Vitamins for Kidney Patients
- National Kidney Foundation: Phosphorus and Your CKD Diet
- National Kidney Foundation: Potassium and your CKD Diet
