Vitamin D And…Kidney Disease? The Hidden Connection With Serious Consequences
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 can’t convert the form of vitamin D produced by the sun or found 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 may be at risk due to a deficiency in “active” vitamin D.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which kidney function slows and the kidneys stop doing critical jobs such as filtering toxins from the bloodstream.
The severity of CKD is classified in stages, with stage 5, also known as kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), being the most severe. Patients with ESRD require dialysis, a procedure where several times a week for several hours their bloodstream is routed through a machine that filters toxins.
40 million Americans with
or at risk for chronic...