Hyperuricemia is a condition caused by high levels of a compound known as uric acid in the blood. Hyperuricemia can damage your joints and your kidneys. Vitamin D may be useful for patients with hyperuricemia because it can help repair damaged bones and maintain your health if you develop chronic kidney disease. However, you should talk to your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally found in fatty fish such as mackerel, herring and trout. It can also be found in egg yolks and in dairy products that have been fortified with this vitamin. Vitamin D is essential for your digestive tract to absorb calcium, and this vitamin also helps regulate the health of your bones. In addition, vitamin D is needed to control cell replication, insulin secretion and your immune system.
Hyperuricemia
Hyperuricemia is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is made when your body breaks down proteins and other substances from your diet. Uric acid levels can also go up when large numbers of cells break down, which can occur with hemolytic anemias or as a result of cancer therapy. High levels of uric acid can cause gout, an extremely painful form of arthritis caused by crystals of uric acid forming in your joints. Hyperuricemia can also result in kidney stones.
Vitamin D and Hyperuricemia
Vitamin D may be useful if you suffer from gout because the joint inflammation that gout causes can damage your bones. Vitamin D supplements may help your body repair your bones due to the effects of vitamin D on calcium levels. If your hyperuricemia results in kidney stones that cause chronic kidney disease, vitamin D may also be beneficial. Many people with chronic kidney disease have vitamin D deficiencies, a 2007 article in "Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension" explains, and vitamin D supplements can improve the health of people with chronic kidney disease.
Considerations
Hyperuricemia can cause serious medical problems, so if you think you are developing gout or uric acid kidney stones, talk to your doctor. You should also talk to your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements, because consuming too much vitamin D can cause high levels of calcium in your blood. This can increase your risk of developing kidney stones and can cause constipation, memory loss, muscle twitching and dementia.
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