Journal of Renal Nutrition
Volume 21, Issue 6 , Pages e33-e42, November 2011

A Current Look at Renal Multivitamins

  • Christine Swafford, MS, RD, CSR, LD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Christine Swafford, MS, RD, CSR, LD, DaVita Dialysis, Renal Dietitian, 2685 Metropolitan Pkwy, Suite F, Atlanta, GA 30315.

Renal Nutrition, DaVita Dialysis, Atlanta, GA

Column Editor: Jennifer Kernc, RD, CSR, LD

Article Outline

 

VITAMINS AND MINERALS are vital for everyone’s personal health. They are used for a variety of special functions in our bodies such as to use the food we eat, to make energy for cells, to promote growth, or to repair body tissues. However, for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), not any multivitamins, especially those available over the counter, will be appropriate. Over-the-counter supplements may contain large doses of specific minerals and vitamins, which could be toxic for someone whose kidneys are not working sufficiently. CKD patients on dialysis are encouraged to take a daily renal multivitamin. Whether a patient is on peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis, or in-center hemodialysis, renal diet has limitations that may exclude some important nutrients needed. Also, water-soluble vitamins are removed from the blood during the dialysis process, leaving the CKD population more vulnerable for a deficiency. Those diagnosed with CKD have different needs for specific vitamins and minerals compared with those without CKD. This is due to a variety of reasons1:

•The waste products that build up in the body each day can change the way in which the body uses vitamins and minerals.

•Some of the medicines taken can change the way the body uses certain vitamins and minerals.

•Some vitamins are lost during the dialysis treatment.

•Following a CKD diet can mean certain vitamins and minerals are missed from some food groups.

•On days when patients may not feel well enough to eat regular meals, they may not get enough daily vitamins and minerals to meet physiological needs.

•CKD changes the body’s ability to make some vitamins, that is, vitamin D.

The specific vitamins and minerals which may be recommend include all B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, and cyanocobalamin), folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, elemental iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin D.2, 3 Prescription and nonprescription strengths are available. Herbal remedies are generally not recommended presently owing to limited research available in this specific population. There may be unwanted interactions with prescription medication or other side effects. Always speak with your doctor before beginning any supplement, herbal remedy or over-the-counter medicine, and verify your vitamins have an expiration date.

Back to Article Outline

JREN - Renal Vitamin Product Update April 2011 

Ingredients/Product InformationRecommendation∗Dialyvite 800Dialyvite 800 + ZnDialyvite 800 + Zn 15Dialyvite 800/Ultra DDialyvite 800 + IronDialyvite RxDialyvite Rx + ZnDialyvite 3000 RxDialyvite 5000 RxDialyvite Supreme D RxDiatx Zn TabFolbee PlusFolbee Plus CZHealthy FactorNephplex Rx TabNephrocapsNephron Fa TabNephronex LiquidNephronex Caps RxNephroViteNephroVite RxProRenal QD with Omega 3ProRenal VitalRenal Caps SoftgelRenaPlex-DRenatabs RxRenatabs with Iron RxRenavitRena-ViteRena-Vite RxRenal Tab IRenal Tab IIRenal Tab ZnRenal Tab Zn+DRenax CapletRenax 5.5 CapletVital-D
Folic acid - mg1-50.80.80.80.80.8113535550.81110.910.810.80.810.8110.80.8111112.55.51
Thiamine (B1) - mg1.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.51.5331.5
Riboflavin (B2) - mg1.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.51.51.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.7221.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.71.7221.7
Niacin/Niacinamide (B3) - mg2020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020
Pantothenic acid (B5) - mg1010101010101010101010101010101051010101010105510101010101010101010101010
Pyridoxine (B6) - mg2101010101010102550255050501010101010105105101010101010101010101010153010
Methylcobalamin/cyanocobalamin (B12) - mcg3666666612121266661010662.42.4666666666661216
Biotin - mcg3003003003003003003003003003003003003003003003001503003003003003003030150300300300300300300300300300300300300300
Vitamin C - mg60-1006060606060100100100100100606060606010040606060606060100606060606060606060605010060
Vitamin E - IU15000300003030300000000000010003555000000035350
Elemental iron - mg0000029000000000002000000880001000000000000
Zinc - mg150501515005015251525025012.500000088015000001501515202012.5
Selenium - mcg00007000070707000000000000555507000000000070700
Copper - mg000000000001.501.5000000000.90.900000000000000
Chromium - mcg0000000000000000000000000000000150000000
Vitamin D - IU00002000000002000000000000001000100002000000000000001750
Docusate sodium - mg000000000000000007500000000000000000000
Prescription (P)/nonprescription (NP) NPNPNPNPNPPPPPPPPPNPPPPNPPNPPNPNPPNP00NPNPPNPNPNPNPPPP
Manufacturer Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Hillestad Pharmaceuticals Inc.Centrix Pharmaceutical, Inc.Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, IncBreckenridge Pharmaceutical, IncHealthy FactorNephro-TechFleming PharmaceuticalsNephro-TechLlorens PharmaceuticalsLlorens PharmaceuticalsWatson PharmaceuticalsWatson PharmaceuticalsNephroceuticalsNephroceuticalsCypress Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Nephro-TechHawthorn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Vitaline FormulasCypress Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Cypress Pharmaceuticals, Inc.RenalabRenalabRenalabRenalabEverett Laboratories, Inc.Everett Laboratories, Inc.Nephro-Tech
City, state Woodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIWoodruff, WIBirmingham, ALBoca Raton, FLBoca Raton, FLArbor Vitae, WIShawnee, KSFenton, MOShawnee, KSMiami, FLMiami, FLParsippany, NJParsippany, NJMiamisburg, OHMiamisburg, OHMadison, MSShawnee, KSMadison, MSMadison, MSGreen Bay, WIMadison, MSMadison, MSTempleton, CATempleton, CATempleton, CATempleton, CAWest Orange, NJWest Orange, NJShawnee, KS
Manufacturer phone number (866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773(866) 358-9773205-991-9870800-367-3395800-367-3395715-358-1988800-879-4755800-343-0164800-879-4755866-595-5598866-595-5598800-900-1644800-900-1644877-277-6765877-277-6765800-856-4393800-879-4755888-455-5253888-455-5253800-287-5972800-856-4393800-856-4393800-345-3838800-345-3838800-345-3838800-345-3838973-324-0200973-324-0200800-879-4755
Product website www.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.netwww.dialyvite.nethttp://www.diatxzn.comhttp://bpirx.comhttp://bpirx.comhttp://www.healthyfactor.orghttp://www.nephrotech.comhttp://flemingpharma.comhttp://www.nephrotech.comhttp://www.llorenspharm.comhttp://www.llorenspharm.comhttp://www.rugbylaboratories.comhttp://www.watson.comhttp://www.nephroceuticals.com
http://www.myprorenal.com		http://www.nephroceuticals.com
http://www.myprorenal.com		http://www.cypressrx.comhttp://www.nephrotech.comhttp://www.hawthornrx.comhttp://www.hawthornrx.comhttp://www.enzymatictherapy.com/VitalineFormulas/Home.aspxhttp://www.cypressrx.comhttp://www.cypressrx.comhttp://www.renalab.nethttp://www.renalab.nethttp://www.renalab.nethttp://www.renalab.nethttp://www.everettlabs.com/ever2/http://www.everettlabs.com/ever2/http://www.nephrotech.com

Pocket Guide to Nutrition Assessment of the Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease 4th Edition, NKF publication, pg 4-4.

http://iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity Files/Nutrition/DRIs/RDA and AIs_Vitamin and Elements.pdf.

∗References: http://www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/pdf/KDOQI2000NutritionGL.pdf.

Back to Article Outline

References 

  1. National Kidney Foundation. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/vitamineral.cfm.
  2. Am J Kidney Dis 46;1064-1071, 2006. Available at: http://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(06)00528-2/abstract.
  3. Nephrol Dial Transplant 22:3561-3567, 2007. Available at: http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/12/3561.full.pdf+html.

PII: S1051-2276(11)00137-3

doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2011.08.002

Journal of Renal Nutrition
Volume 21, Issue 6 , Pages e33-e42, November 2011

Article Tools