Kidney Problems may Decrease with Higher Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D is a vitamin that can be produced in the body with mild sun exposure and also be found in small amounts in few foods, including fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and tuna. To make vitamin D more available, it is added to dairy products, juices, and cereals that are then said to be "fortified with vitamin D." There are very few foods that actually have natural therapeutic levels of vitamin D and even fortified foods do not contain enough vitamin D.A deficiency in the amount of vitamin D in the body may lead to high risk of chronic kidney diseases, especially in children and may also increase the risk of osteoporosis, cancer, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disorders says a new study by the University of Heidelberg in Germany.Vitamin D deficiency has been found common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) -- the longstanding disease of the kidneys leading to renal failure.Researchers have identified certain modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in children with CKD.The team analysed 500 children affected with kidney diseases in 12 European countries.According to the study, nearly two-thirds of children suffering from vitamin D deficiency were also suffering from certain abnormalities like glomerulopathy -- a set of diseases affecting the nephrons. Vitamin D levels were found lower in winter months than at other times of the year. "Vitamin D levels are influenced more strongly by seasonal factors, the type of disease and nutritional supplementation than by common variants in vitamin D regulating genes," said Anke Doyon. Children with kidney disease who took vitamin D supplements had vitamin D levels that were two-times higher than those who did not take supplements. "Supplementation practices should be reconsidered and intervention studies are needed to define guidelines how to monitor and treat vitamin D deficiency in children with chronic kidney disease," Doyon suggested.The findings published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), could help physicians protect the health of these young patients, the researchers concluded(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)