There are many herbal and nutritional supplements on the market that claim to help with kidney health. There aren’t any supplements that can reverse damage caused by chronic kidney disease.
Key takeaways:
- People with chronic kidney disease often need vitamin supplements, including vitamin B complex, iron, and vitamin C.
- People with kidney conditions can develop weak bones. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D can help keep your bones strong.
- Avoid extra vitamins and herbal supplements if you have a kidney condition.
But chronic kidney disease changes how your body uses vitamins and minerals. That means you may need to take supplements to stay healthy if you have chronic kidney disease. Your healthcare team will review which supplements you’ll need to take.
The best supplements for kidney health will depend on your health, medications, and kidney function. But here’s a breakdown of the five supplements most people with chronic kidney disease need to support their kidney health.
1. B vitamins
The body depends on eight different B vitamins. Supplements may contain one, some, or all of these vitamins. Supplements that contain multiple B vitamins are often called “vitamin B complex.”
Of the eight B vitamins, three are crucial building blocks for red blood cells. These are vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid.
Without these vitamins, people can develop anemia. Anemia is a condition where the body doesn’t make enough red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. When people are anemic they may feel weak, dizzy, or have trouble breathing, especially when they’re exerting themselves. Getting enough B vitamins can help you avoid certain types of anemia.
This is important because most people with chronic kidney disease develop anemia because they can’t make enough erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone that signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Without erythropoietin, the bone marrow doesn’t know it’s time to make new red blood cells. As old blood cells die, there aren’t new red blood cells to replace them and this leads to anemia.
So people with chronic kidney disease need to avoid anything else that can lead to anemia, like low vitamin B levels. Your healthcare team can help you determine how much vitamin B you need to take each day.
2. Iron
The body also needs iron to make red blood cells. Low iron levels can lead to a specific kind of anemia called iron deficiency anemia. People with chronic kidney disease often develop iron deficiency anemia for several reasons. First, people living with chronic kidney disease can lose iron stores during frequent blood draws and dialysis.
People may also not take in enough iron because they have trouble getting enough nutrition because chronic kidney disease can affect their appetite. And even people who are able to eat enough iron may have trouble absorbing and using iron from their food because of chronic kidney disease.
People with chronic kidney disease have higher levels of a hormone called hepcidin. Hepcidin keeps the body from using absorbed iron. So people with high levels of this hormone can’t use the iron they absorb to make red blood cells. This leads to iron deficiency anemia.
Every molecule of iron matters for people with chronic kidney disease. Iron supplements give your body extra chances to absorb more iron. Your healthcare team can help you determine how much iron you need to take each day. They can also help you figure out if oral supplements or intravenous (IV) iron infusions are better for you.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps your body build collagen. Collagen is a protein that’s essential for keeping bone and teeth strong and healthy. It also helps wounds heal and supports the immune system. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron from plant-based foods.
Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant. Some researchers believe that getting enough vitamin C can help the body manage inflammation that develops in chronic kidney disease.
People with chronic kidney disease may lose their vitamin C stores during dialysis. They may also not get enough vitamin C in their diet because they need to follow a low-potassium diet. That’s why many people need vitamin C supplements.
While getting enough vitamin C can help you stay healthy, getting too much can lead to oxalate kidney stones. Kidney stones can lead to more kidney damage. Your healthcare team will help you determine how much vitamin C you can safely take each day.
4. Calcium
Calcium plays many important roles in the body. But it’s best known for keeping bones strong and healthy.
People with chronic kidney disease often develop bone disease. The kidneys normally control the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body. People with chronic kidney disease have trouble getting rid of extra phosphorus. When phosphorus levels get too high, the body pulls calcium out of bones to balance out the high phosphorus levels. But without calcium, bones become weak and fragile. This can lead to fractures.
Taking calcium supplements increases calcium levels in the body. This can stop the body from pulling too much calcium from bones.
But it’s important not to take too much calcium if you have chronic kidney disease. High calcium levels can cause more kidney damage. Too much calcium can also cause damage to the heart, blood vessels and lungs. Your healthcare team will help you determine how much calcium you can safely take each day, both in supplements and from food.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb and use calcium to build strong bones.
Most people have low vitamin D levels because it’s hard to get enough vitamin D from food. People with chronic kidney disease are at even higher risk for having low vitamin D levels because kidney disease can lead to poor nutrition.
The kidneys also convert vitamin D from food into the active form of vitamin D that helps with calcium absorption. People with chronic kidney disease aren’t able to effectively convert vitamin D to its active form.
Many people with chronic kidney disease need to take vitamin D supplements to support their bone health. But like other vitamins, it’s possible to take too much vitamin D. Your healthcare team will help you determine how much vitamin D you can safely take each day.
Who shouldn’t take supplements for kidney health?
There are many supplements marketed to support kidney health. However, people with chronic kidney disease should avoid supplements unless they’re recommended by their healthcare team.
It’s important to get the right vitamins and minerals if you’re living with chronic kidney disease. But it can be easy to accidentally take too many vitamins. That’s why it’s important to work with your healthcare team, including your dietitian, to make sure you get the right nutrients.
Always talk with your healthcare team before starting any new supplements or vitamins. Even seemingly harmless supplements can worsen kidney disease. Experts advise that people with chronic kidney disease avoid these supplements:
- Astragalus
- Barberry
- Cat’s claw
- Goldenrod
- Horsetail
- Huperzine A
- Java tea leaf
- Licorice root
- Pennyroyal
- Nettle
- Oregon grape root
- Parsley root
- Uva ursi
Common vitamins, like vitamins A, E, and K, can build up and reach dangerously high levels in people living with chronic kidney disease. Don’t take supplements containing these vitamins unless your healthcare team tells you it’s safe.
The bottom line
People living with chronic kidney disease often need to take extra vitamins and supplements to support their kidney health. Many people need to take extra vitamins B, C, D, calcium, and iron. However, it’s important to work with your healthcare team to determine how much of these vitamins you should take. Taking too much can worsen kidney disease. Avoid any supplements or vitamins that aren’t recommended by your healthcare team. This can help keep your kidneys safe.
By Amy Walsh, who has worked as an emergency physician for 15 years, including care at both rural hospitals and trauma centers. I am the former Global Emergency Medicine fellowship director at Health Partners.
