RE: Vitamins - Pierre

[Guest guest]

Ah, posts from the " other site " - wasn't there a Twilight Zone episode about

that? : )

Yes, I have read about that actually. Anything you can find when researching

this is about patients in " renal failure " , and when they use that term, they

really mean renal failure. There isn't much data on vitamins and people who

have mild chronic renal failure. Only a person's own nephrologist is in a

position to tell to what degree these things apply to any given patient. I

don't think I would trust any GP or any other doctor with this kind of

stuff.

In a nutshell though (and I think I'll be adding this info in the Files

section for future reference):

Basically, renal failure patients may need supplementation of some B

vitamins, some iron, and in cases of more advanced renal failure,

calcitriol, which is a form of vitamin D already converted for use by the

body.

Renal failure patients retain vitamin E and vitamin A, so there is no need

for supplementation (again, whether taking any without your doctor's

knowledge is enough to be harmful depends on the degree of renal failure).

Vitamin C, if used, is in a small dose, no more than about 60 mg per day,

because with higher doses in renal patients, there is a risk of forming what

they call oxalates in the body tissues. Also, any vitamin C the body doesn't

need is generally excreted in the urine within a few hours (so you can see

that, while there is little data on this, excess vitamin C could potentially

add to the workload of the kidneys).

Zinc, not a vitamin, but commonly found in multi-vits and minerals, actually

increases the amount of circulating IgA.

Now, this is all just in general terms. Some people may have specific

deficiencies that need to be supplemented for. My feeling about vitamins and

minerals is I take only, and only what my neph tells me to take. Currently,

this is only calcium and calcitriol (vit d). One thing you lose when you

become a kidney patient is some amount of personal control on things like

this. I would say that if a person wants to take something (even a

multi-vit), he or she should check with the doc first. Our nephrologists

assume (rightly or wrongly), that we aren't taking any megadoses of any

supplements unless they tell us to.

But vitamin A is one that you definitely can overdose on, which is why

people have to be careful not to mistake cod liver oil for fish body oil.

Taking 6 or 12 grams per day of cod liver oil could certainly cause some

vitamin A toxicity. But the RDA amount of vitamin A probably isn't harmful

in mild renal failure.

As a personal aside, since about the time I've had moderate renal failure,

anytime I take vitamin C or vitamin E, my blood pressure goes through the

roof.

da-da-da-da da-da-da-da da-da-da-da

(supposed to be the Twilight Zone theme : )

Pierre

Vitamins - Pierre

> Pierre - I was viewing the posts on the " other " site and I noticed a

> discussion about vitamins. My neph mentioned vitamins A, E, and C when I

> first met with him. The post over there is stating that vitamins A should

> be avoided all together (and I take 10,000 iu) and so should vitamin C.

> Have you read this anywhere before or is this more crap? I also take

1000mg

> of vitamin C a day, which is wonderful for fighting off the flu.

> -Byron

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I had discussed this with my neph, and since I am no where close to renal failure I still take my vitamins. I 'm trying to not accelerate the process.

-----Original Message-----From: Pierre Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 9:39 AMTo: iga-nephropathy Subject: Re: Vitamins - PierreAh, posts from the "other site" - wasn't there a Twilight Zone episode aboutthat? : )Yes, I have read about that actually. Anything you can find when researchingthis is about patients in "renal failure", and when they use that term, theyreally mean renal failure. There isn't much data on vitamins and people whohave mild chronic renal failure. Only a person's own nephrologist is in aposition to tell to what degree these things apply to any given patient. Idon't think I would trust any GP or any other doctor with this kind ofstuff.In a nutshell though (and I think I'll be adding this info in the Filessection for future reference):Basically, renal failure patients may need supplementation of some Bvitamins, some iron, and in cases of more advanced renal failure,calcitriol, which is a form of vitamin D already converted for use by thebody.Renal failure patients retain vitamin E and vitamin A, so there is no needfor supplementation (again, whether taking any without your doctor'sknowledge is enough to be harmful depends on the degree of renal failure).Vitamin C, if used, is in a small dose, no more than about 60 mg per day,because with higher doses in renal patients, there is a risk of forming whatthey call oxalates in the body tissues. Also, any vitamin C the body doesn'tneed is generally excreted in the urine within a few hours (so you can seethat, while there is little data on this, excess vitamin C could potentiallyadd to the workload of the kidneys).Zinc, not a vitamin, but commonly found in multi-vits and minerals, actuallyincreases the amount of circulating IgA.Now, this is all just in general terms. Some people may have specificdeficiencies that need to be supplemented for. My feeling about vitamins andminerals is I take only, and only what my neph tells me to take. Currently,this is only calcium and calcitriol (vit d). One thing you lose when youbecome a kidney patient is some amount of personal control on things likethis. I would say that if a person wants to take something (even amulti-vit), he or she should check with the doc first. Our nephrologistsassume (rightly or wrongly), that we aren't taking any megadoses of anysupplements unless they tell us to.But vitamin A is one that you definitely can overdose on, which is whypeople have to be careful not to mistake cod liver oil for fish body oil.Taking 6 or 12 grams per day of cod liver oil could certainly cause somevitamin A toxicity. But the RDA amount of vitamin A probably isn't harmfulin mild renal failure.As a personal aside, since about the time I've had moderate renal failure,anytime I take vitamin C or vitamin E, my blood pressure goes through theroof.da-da-da-da da-da-da-da da-da-da-da(supposed to be the Twilight Zone theme : )Pierre Vitamins - Pierre> Pierre - I was viewing the posts on the "other" site and I noticed a> discussion about vitamins. My neph mentioned vitamins A, E, and C when I> first met with him. The post over there is stating that vitamins A should> be avoided all together (and I take 10,000 iu) and so should vitamin C.> Have you read this anywhere before or is this more crap? I also take1000mg> of vitamin C a day, which is wonderful for fighting off the flu.> -Byron>