The Effects of Zinc on Kidney Functions

When an individual begins to face the loss of kidney function, levels of zinc̵2;a vital element for bodily health̵2;begin to decrease. Physicians are unsure of the cause, bu zinc deficiency is more prevalent in certain types of kidney disease.

Significance

• Minerals like zinc, iron and copper help the body better process and utilize food. ̶0;They are needed to make energy for cells and promote growth and repair body tissues," according to the National Kidney Foundation. ̶0;Chronic kidney disease changes your body's need for certain vitamins and minerals.̶1;

Function

• Zinc plays an important role in many bodily functions including metabolism, the immune system, smell and taste and wound healing.

Effects

• Individuals with decreased kidney function typically experience deficient levels of bodily zinc. ̶0;Abnormalities of Zn (Zinc) metabolism are well documented in patients with chronic renal disease,̶1; said Dr. S. K. Mahajan in a 1989 report for the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Considerations

• The exact cause of zinc deficiency in kidney disease remains unclear, but it is more prevalent in those suffering from nephrotic kidney disease, a disorder where glomeruli, the minute blood vessels that help filter the blood, are damaged.

Warning

• While logic may dictate that zinc deficiency should be addressed with supplementation, high levels of zinc can also be toxic. ̶0;Severe kidney disease may make it necessary to reduce or omit chromium and Zinc doses because these elements are primarily eliminated in the urine,̶1; writes Drugs.com