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Healthy Kidneys & Hormones and
Minerals
In healthy adults, bone tissue is
continually being remodeled and
rebuilt. The kidneys play an
important role in maintaining
healthy bone mass and structure
because one of their jobs is to
balance calcium and phosphorus
levels in the blood.
Calcium is a mineral that builds and
strengthens bones. It's found in
many foods, particularly milk and
other dairy products. If calcium
levels in the blood become too low,
four small glands in the neck called
the parathyroid glands release a
hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH).
This hormone draws calcium from the
bones to raise blood calcium levels.
Too much PTH in the blood will
remove too much calcium from the
bones; over time, the constant
removal of calcium weakens the
bones.
Phosphorus, which is found in most
foods, also helps regulate calcium
levels in the bones. Healthy kidneys
remove excess phosphorus from the
blood. When the kidneys stop working
normally, phosphorus levels in the
blood can become too high, leading
to lower levels of calcium in the
blood and resulting in the loss of
calcium from the bones.
Healthy kidneys produce calcitriol
to help the body absorb dietary
calcium into the blood and the
bones. If calcitriol levels drop too
low, PTH levels increase, and
calcium is removed from the bones.
Calcitriol and PTH work together to
keep calcium balance normal and
bones healthy. In a patient with
kidney failure, the kidneys stop
making calcitriol. The body then
can't absorb calcium from food and
starts removing it from the bones.
Content Courtesy :
kidney.niddk.nih.gov
Note : Information herein is
provided for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. You
should not use this information for
diagnosing or treating a medical or
health condition. If you have or
suspect you have a medical problem,
promptly contact your professional
healthcare provider. Please consult
your healthcare provider before
beginning any course of
supplementation or treatment.
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