Diet is an important part of treating kidney disease. While managing the intake of nutrients, such as thiamine, doesn't make the disease better, it does help manage the regulatory systems that go awry as kidney disease progresses. The National Kidney Foundation recommends that a patient with advanced disease meet with a renal dietitian who can evaluate his laboratory work and navigate a diet that is tailored for his particular needs.
Thiamine
Thiamine was one of the first vitamins to be discovered in the 1930s. Also known as B-1, this vitamin acts as a coenzyme, supporting enzymes involved in the synthesis of RNA, DNA and adenosine triphosphate, the form of energy produced in cells known as ATP. A coenzyme helps the enzyme catalyze biochemical reactions. Reactions that would otherwise unfold very slowly, or not at all, occur faster with a coenzyme present.
Causes
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, polycystic disease and glomerular disease were the most common causes of kidney failure in 2007. Since you have a finite number of glomeruli, or filters, in your kidneys, once a glomeruli is lost, the damage is permanent and cannot be remedied by taking thiamine or other supplements.
Functions
In addition to removing waste products from the blood, the kidneys also maintain the acid-base balance in your body, regulate potassium and phosphorus levels, regulate blood pressure and aid in the maturation of red blood cells. Damaged kidneys are less able to perform these functions. Treating patients with advanced disease requires being able to address all these problems.
Recommendation
A kidney patient often becomes malnourished as her disease advances. In addition to poor appetite, the patient must follow a very restricted diet to compensate for high serum phosphorus and potassium levels. DaVita, a Fortune 500 company that provides kidney information and services, reports that specially formulated renal vitamins are useful in addressing this problem. It recommends that the patient supplement her regular intake of thiamine with an additional 1.5 mg found in a daily renal vitamin. You should consult with your physician when formulating a treatment plan for any condition.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute; Thiamin; Jane Higdon, Ph.D; September 2002
- DaVita: The ABCs of Vitamins for Kidney Patients
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease: Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States
- DaVita: Potassium, Phosphorus and the Dialysis Diet
- National Kidney Foundation: K/DOQI Appendix IV. Role of the Renal Dietitian
