Why the proper kidney function is important for bone health?
Healthy kidneys perform many important tasks. They remove waste and extra fluid from your body, help produce red blood cells, regulate the amount of minerals, and keep your bones healthy. In turn, minerals are nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy.
With advanced kidney disease or kidney failure, your kidneys can’t perform all of these important functions well. As a result, you may develop mineral and bone disorders, a common problem in people with kidney disease and affecting almost everyone with kidney failure.
What is a mineral and bone disorder?
Mineral and bone disorder associated with kidney disease occurs when there is an imbalance in the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. This mineral imbalance can affect your bones, heart and blood vessels.
How do kidney disease and kidney failure lead to bone and heart disease?
When kidney function is impaired, your kidneys can no longer filter excess phosphorus and remove it from the body through urine. Over time, phosphorus from the foods you eat can build up to high levels in your blood.
Healthy kidneys also convert vitamin D from sunlight and foods into active vitamin D that your body can use. When the kidneys fail, there is a lack of active vitamin D. This imbalances the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.
When blood phosphorus levels rise and vitamin D levels fall, your body begins to produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). High levels of PTH cause calcium to move from your bones into your blood. The consequence of this is that your bone system becomes weaker and more brittle.
How are mineral and bone disorders treated?
Diet with low phosphorus content, supplements with Vitamin D. Taking of Calcimimetics – medicaments that are often used when the levels of PTH, calcium and phosphorus in the blood are too high in people on dialysis. Start a training plan – exercises to strengthen the bone system.
