N25.0: Renal osteodystrophy

Your kidneys are not working properly. This has also affected your bones.

There are normally 2 kidneys in the body. They filter blood and create urine. They thus help to detoxify the body. Furthermore, the kidneys regulate blood pressure and the mineral levels in the blood, among other things. If the kidneys do not work properly, the levels of important messenger substances and minerals in the blood may change.

The kidneys are also involved in the production of vitamin D. If the kidneys do not work properly, the body may not produce enough vitamin D.Vitamin D is important for bone strength. Calcium and phosphate are stored in the bones by vitamin D. Bone thus hardens. Vitamin D is also important for the maturation of immune cells and muscular strength.

The body can create vitamin D itself. This requires direct sunlight. You can also take vitamin D with food. However, this only makes up a small part of your body’s vitamin D. There is vitamin D in fatty sea fish and offal, for example.

Changes in minerals in the blood and vitamin D deficiency can cause the bones to change. Pain and bone deformations may occur at the affected areas.

If the kidneys stop working properly during childhood, the child may not grow normally.