Vitamins and minerals in chronic kidney disease

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Post by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Most vitamins and minerals are obtained from the foods humans eat. However, people with chronic kidney disease or kidney disease on dialysis will be restricted from certain food groups. Therefore, they cannot get enough vitamins and minerals that the body needs daily, so they need to supplement in the form of oral tablets.

1. What are vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins and minerals are substances the body needs to help carry out important functions. Vitamins and minerals help your body get energy from food, repair tissue, and sustain life. If you have kidney disease or are on dialysis, the vitamins and minerals may not be enough in the amounts your body needs.

2. Vitamins and minerals in chronic kidney disease

Most vitamins and minerals are obtained from the foods humans eat. The body cannot synthesize vitamins and minerals on its own. People with healthy kidneys can eat a variety of food groups (meat, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products) so they will provide enough vitamins and minerals the body needs. However, people with chronic kidney disease or kidney disease on dialysis will be restricted from certain food groups. Therefore, they cannot get enough vitamins and minerals that the body needs daily, so they need to supplement in the form of oral tablets.
Chronic kidney disease changes the body's need for nutrients. The reason is because:
The waste products produced that accumulate in the body on a daily basis have changed the way the body uses vitamins and minerals. Medicines for chronic kidney disease also affect the body's use of vitamins and minerals. Some vitamins are lost through dialysis if you have dialysis treatment. Adhering to a diet for people with chronic kidney disease will also ignore some vitamins and minerals found in food. There are days when eating does not feel good, so eating less also affects the amount of vitamins and minerals that are absorbed.

3. What vitamins and minerals should be added?

Depending on your health status and other factors, your doctor will recommend that people with chronic kidney disease supplement with the following foods:
B Complex: B complex vitamins usually combine 1 group of vitamins, but each has different functions. Different: One of the important functions of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid is to work with iron to help prevent anemia (lack of red blood cells). Red blood cells help carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body. A group of B vitamins including thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin help convert food into the energy the body needs. Iron: If you are taking medication for anemia caused by kidney failure, you will be prescribed iron tablets or intravenous infusion. However, do not self-medicate unless your doctor prescribes it. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is used to help keep body tissues healthy. It also helps heal wounds and bruises faster, and prevents infection. You need a prescription from your doctor if you have one. Vitamin D: Vitamin D is important in maintaining bone health. There are many types of vitamin D. You can take vitamin D in pill form or by injection during dialysis if you are already on dialysis treatment. Also need a doctor's prescription if indicated. Calcium: Calcium along with vitamin D helps maintain bone health. You need to take the correct dose recommended by your doctor. Excessive use of calcium causes calcium to combine with phosphorus and deposit in the heart, blood vessels, lungs and other tissues, causing calcium deposition related diseases. If you take a phosphorus binder containing calcium to lower your phosphorus, there is an increased risk of hypercalcemia, so use should also be monitored by your doctor.

4. Which vitamins should be avoided for chronic kidney disease?

People with chronic kidney disease need to avoid vitamins such as: Vitamins A, E and K. These vitamins can accumulate and can be harmful to the body if taken in excess. Over time, they can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, and even death. People with chronic kidney disease only take this group of vitamins if their doctor prescribes it. There are also some recommendations about vitamin C, which if taken in high doses can produce oxalate in chronic kidney disease. Oxalate builds up in the body, depositing in bones and other tissues, causing pain and other problems over time.

5. Is it safe to take herbs if you have chronic kidney disease?

People with chronic kidney disease and people on dialysis should avoid herbs and over-the-counter supplements. They can cause unwanted interactions with prescribed medications or other side effects. Always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbs, over-the-counter medicines or supplements.
In case of kidney transplant patients, it is necessary to contact the transplant doctor and renal nutrition specialist to know which herbs and functional foods are safe to use.
Early detection of chronic kidney disease plays an important role in the outcome of treatment and diagnosis. Renal function scintigraphy is routinely applied at the Nuclear Medicine Unit, Vinmec International General Hospital. This is a technique to evaluate kidney function using modern high-precision measuring equipment and radioactive tracer. With good quality images, functional renal scintigraphy has become an indispensable technique to probe kidney function, contributing to improving the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of kidney and urinary tract diseases. In particular, the scan shows the function of each kidney individually, helping to make safe treatment decisions.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital uses the SPECT/CT Discovery NM/CT 670 Pro equipment system, with the most modern 16-series CTs of the world's leading medical equipment company GE Healthcare (USA), for high-quality images, helping to diagnose diseases that need to be investigated early. In particular, Vinmec's team of experienced, well-trained doctors at home and abroad will directly advise and provide maximum support to customers during the shooting process, even for customers who are foreigner.

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Reference source: Kidney.org