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You may know that the sun and certain foods are good sources of vitamin D. But did you know that due to chronic kidney disease, millions of Americans cannot convert the type of vitamin D generated by the sun or discovered in food and over-the-counter vitamins into the active form of vitamin D used by the body? This means that even if you’re taking vitamin D pills, getting adequate sunlight or eating foods rich in vitamin D, your bones and organs might be at risk due to a deficit in “active” vitamin D.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a problem in which kidney function decreases and also the kidneys discontinue doing critical jobs for example filtering toxins from the bloodstream.

The severity of CKD is categorized in stages, with stage 5, also known as kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), being the most severe. Patients with ESRD need dialysis, a procedure where several times a week for a number of hours their bloodstream is routed through a machine that filters toxins.

So what does CKD have to do with vitamin D, let alone your bones?

Before the body can use vitamin D, it needs to be “activated”. Inactive vitamin D – the vitamin D you get in the form of over-the-counter pills, food or sunlight- is activated by two steps, one in the liver and the other in the kidneys.

For individuals with CKD, however, their kidneys’ capability to activate adequate amounts of vitamin D deteriorates as their general kidney function decreases. Actually, people with kidney disease may eventually lose the capability to activate vitamin D altogether.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism

If levels of active vitamin D are low or insufficient within the body, a severe complication of CKD known as secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) can occur. SHPT can result in a wide range of problems, including damage to bones and many vital organs.

How is SHPT prevented and treated?

When CKD and SHPT are detected early, the problems might be managed and disease progression might be slowed.

Remember, individuals with stage 3 or 4 CKD who develop SHPT can’t convert vitamin D into its active form within their own kidneys. Specialists advise that these patients with stage 3 or 4 CKD and SHPT take an activated type of vitamin D medication-which is obtainable only by prescription-to correct their vitamin D insufficiency and therefore treat SHPT. Managing SHPT lowers danger for bone loss or fracture, cardiac complications and dangerous mineral and hormonal imbalances.

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