Previous clinical studies have found that the general population have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease if vitamin D is deficient, while when vitamin D is supplemented, the risk will be reduced.

However, is the mortality (including cardiovascular mortality) of kidney patients or uremia patients associated with vitamin D?

In other words, will vitamin supplement make you live longer?

We do not know for sure due to scanty studies.

But recently we have an answer.

Recently, Peking University First Hospital conducted a meta-analysis of related clinical studies in recent years to determine whether vitamin D is associated with mortality in dialysis patients with uremia.

The results showed that for each 10ng/mL (25nmol/L) increase in vitamin D level in uremia patients, the risk of all-cause death was reduced by 22%. Vitamin D supplementation proved to reduce mortality and prolong life.

Results of the study were published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.

The meta-analysis included 18 of medium and high quality cohort studies involving more than 10,000 adult dialysis patients, assessing all-cause and cardiovascular mortality at different serum vitamin D levels.

The results also found that for every 10ng/mL increase in vitamin D levels, there was a 29% reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Remember, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in uremia patients.

Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in patients with kidney disease.

Because the kidneys have the ability to activate vitamin D, vitamin D levels drop when the kidneys are damaged.

Vitamin D deficiency also leads to frequent calcium deficiency, causing osteoporosis.

Currently, kidney patients often supplement vitamin D with calcitriol or alphacalcidol. Our patients should be monitored for serum vitamin D during inflammatory response, renal failure and uremia, and pay attention to the need of supplementation.

If you still have any questions on kidney disease, please leave a message below or contact online doctor.