Kidney disease changes your nutritional needs, often depleting nutrients.
Taking supplements may be crucial for staying healthy.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
Grace Cary / Getty Images
Grace Cary / Getty Images
What Supplements Are Used for Kidneys?
No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Calcium
Chronic kidney disease decreases the ability of the kidneys to excretephosphorus.
This can result in increased phosphorus levels in the blood.
In CKD, the kidney production of active vitamin Dis also impaired.
Vitamin D is essential for the intestinal absorption of calcium.
A vitamin D deficiency also decreases calcium absorption.
In people withstage 5 CKDondialysis, calcium supplements can also betaken with meals, serving as dietary phosphate binders.
Phosphate binders help reduce the amount of phosphorus available for absorption in the gut.
Acid-reducing drugs: This class, which includesPrilosec (omeprazole), can decrease the absorption of calcium carbonate.
However, withadvanced kidney disease, the kidneys can no longer release calcium via the urine.
This increases the risk ofexcessive calcium retention.
Caution should be taken with calcium supplementation in this case.
Calcium levels that are too high increase the risk ofheart and blood vessel problems.
Additionally, it is suggested that calcium levels that are too high can increase the risk ofkidney stones.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
Many dietary supplement products contain NAC.
However, NAC is technically an approved drug for the treatment ofTylenol (acetaminophen)overdose.
It is also amucolytic(mucus-thinning) agent in certain respiratory diseases, per the FDA.
More rigorous studies conducted in various populations are needed to confirm the results.
This can contribute to nausea and vomiting after NAC is taken by mouth.
Furthermore,chest tightnessandbronchoconstriction(narrowing of the airways) have been reported after using NAC.
Some medical treatments for CKD can disrupt the body’s uptake of certain B vitamins.
Unlike phosphate binders, such as calcium supplements, niacin does not need to be given with a meal.
Supplementation withfolatedid not reduce cardiovascular events (heart attack or stroke) in people withCKD.
Vitamin B6supplementation in people with normal or high oxalate levels withkidney stonesdecreased oxalate’s excretion into the urine.
However,high doses of vitamin B6may:
B vitamins lower homocysteine levels in the blood.
A lower-than-normal red blood cell count can lead toanemia.
Further studies are needed to clarify the safety of iron supplementation in people with higher starting ferritin levels.
Several guidelines recommend iron supplementation in people with CKD with anemia and iron deficiency.
Moreover, the guidelines recommend intravenous or IV iron supplementation in people with CKD stage 5 on dialysis therapy.
Less severehypersensitivity reactionsassociated with IV iron includedizzinessandhypotension (low blood pressure).
The therapy ranged from one to 12 months.
Excessive amounts of vitamin Dcan cause increased calcium levels in the blood and urine.
However, it can also increase phosphorus absorption from the gut.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid vitamin D supplementation with CKD until phosphorus levels are within normal range.
This is due to the increased risk of side effects, herb-drug interactions, and worsening of kidney disease.
Creatine
Creatineis used to increase athletic performance and muscle mass.
Therefore, caution should still be taken.
Therefore,phosphorus-containing supplementsshould belimitedoravoided in CKD.
Some herbal supplements that have phosphorus include the following:
Potassium-Containing Supplements
Potassium-containing supplementsshould belimitedoravoided in CKD.
Always speak with your healthcare provider before taking any herbal or nutritional supplements.
It is important to ensure that supplements complement the kidney problems and not worsen them.
Kidney stones increase the risk of CKD.
Therefore, collagen supplements should be avoided if you have kidney stones or disease.
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