Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs which are essentially the colander of the body. Their function is to filter waste products and excess water from your blood. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a person's kidneys will filter through 200 qt. of blood and 2 qt. of waste and excess water. Acute kidney damage, or kidney failure, is the sudden inability of the kidneys to remove and filter waste. It can be caused by a variety of different conditions and diseases, as well as certain vitamin toxicities. There are three main vitamins that are, in many ways, connected to one another, and in high levels, can contribute to acute kidney damage.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential to maintain healthy skin, teeth, skeletal tissue, soft tissue and mucus membranes in your body. It is responsible for the pigmentation in your retina and aids in vision. The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends a daily intake of 700 mcg for adult females and 900 mcg for adult males. Too much vitamin A, a condition called "hypervitaminosis A," can result in a variety of medical complications including blurred vision, bone pain, liver damage, poor weight gain and vomiting. Excessive vitamin A also contributes to overly high levels of calcium, which then causes kidney damage.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for bone health and calcium regulation. Vitamin D is made through the exposure of your skin to the ultraviolet B rays of the sun. Vitamin D toxicity is rare and usually only occurs when high dose vitamin D is prescribed. The recommended daily allowance for adults less than 70 years old is 600 IU, and adults over 70 should receive 800 IU. Too much vitamin D, or "hypervitaminosis D," causes extremely elevated levels of calcium in the blood that can lead to kidney damage.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that is essential to maintain strong bones and muscles. The recommended daily amount of calcium is 1,000 mg for adult males and 1,200 mg for adult females and can be found in milk, yogurt, cheese, kale, broccoli, grains, and fish. Too much calcium, also called "hypercalcemia," usually occurs due to too much calcium supplementation, according to the National Institutes of Health. Too much calcium in your blood can cause constipation, kidney flank pain, frequent thirst, frequent urination, weakness, bone pain and memory loss. Hypercalcemia can contribute to calcium deposits in the kidneys, kidney failure and kidney stones.
Considerations
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of all Americans take vitamin supplements of some kind. However, before you begin taking vitamin supplements, it is important to discuss them with your physician and have him determine the safest doses for you to take in order to avoid vitamin and mineral toxicity and potential medical complications.
References
- The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; The Kidneys and How They Work; September 9, 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; NCHS Data Brief; April 2011
- MedlinePlus; Acute Kidney Failure; August 31, 2010
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin A; February 8, 2011
- MedlinePlus; Hypervitaminosis A; May 23, 2010
- MedlinePlus; Hypervitaminosis D; November 23, 2009
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