How Kidney Disease Affects Your Bones and Mineral Balance
How Do the Kidneys Affect Bone Health? The kidneys play several important roles in maintaining strong bones. They help regulate phosphorus, maintain calcium balance, and convert vitamin D into its active form, calcitriol. When kidney function decreases, the kidneys may have difficulty removing excess phosphorus and activating enough vitamin D. These changes can affect calcium levels and stimulate the parathyroid glands to produce more PTH. What Happens to Bones in Kidney Disease? Over time, abnormal levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and PTH can affect the way bones are formed and maintained. Bones may become weaker, and some people may experience: · Bone or joint pain · Muscle weakness · Increased risk of fractures · Changes in bone structure These complic...