Your body needs 13 essential vitamins to function properly. When you have chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease and receive dialysis, you may be deficient in several of them. If your physician suggests taking a vitamin supplement, prepare yourself for supplementation by learning about the healthy vitamins for kidney patients and the ones you will need to avoid.
Vitamin Needs
Having kidney disease changes your vitamin needs for several reasons, according to the National Kidney Foundation. A balanced diet generally provides adequate nutrients. A poor appetite or a renal diet that limits certain food groups interferes with meeting nutritional needs. Certain medications and the buildup of waste products in your body can change the way your body uses vitamins and minerals. When your kidneys fail, your body can lose its ability to make certain vitamins, such as Vitamin D. Some vitamins and minerals are lost during dialysis treatment.
Essential Vitamins
Your body needs the essential vitamins for normal cell function, growth and development. Vitamins fall into two categories: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily. The bloodstream distributes them through the body and excretes the excess rather than storing them for later use. Fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Your body stores them in fatty tissue.
Vitamins to Avoid
The National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative recommends not taking an over-the-counter multivitamin if you are on dialysis. You may not require all of the vitamins and minerals an OTC multi contains. Dialysis cannot remove Vitamin A and it builds up in your body, which can be toxic at high levels. A multivitamin provides the inactive form of vitamin D, which your kidneys can no longer activate. Vitamin E has many benefits, but can build up and be toxic. Generally, vitamin K does not need to be supplemented unless your physician prescribes it. High doses of the water-soluble vitamin C can cause build up of oxalate in your bones and soft tissue, causing muscle weakness and loss of function.
Healthy Vitamins
The body needs water-soluble vitamins daily. A specialized renal vitamin contains B vitamins and the dosage of vitamin C that the Food and Nutrition Board's principles of adequate dietary intake established based on the Dietary Reference Intake. Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and folic acid promote red blood cell development. Dialysis increases these requirements. Your physician may recommend the active form of Vitamin D, which you can take orally or by IV during your dialysis treatment.
