Can anyone recommend a kidney friendly Brand of Vitamin D? My doctor and I discovered that I am sensitive to some inactive ingredients which usually effects my eGFR
She still wants me to take Vitamin D. I have done some research and so many vitamins have ingredients from China. I currently use the Brand Sundown but just thought I would ask if there is Vit. D Brand someone can recommend.
Thank you
It would be hard for me to recommend a brand without knowing what ingredients you are sensitive to. If you'd rather not say, I understand, but you can shop online and look at the ingredients for the major suppliers and eliminate any you have issues with.Best of luck.
I think im having problems with some Diovan generics (Valsartan). Each time i get a refill, its a different generic. I would prefer using the brand, but I run into problems with my mail in pharmacy and my health insurance company. How do i look up the ingredients of the generics im taking. I already had problems with a prilosec generic from this pharmacy. Any Information would be helpful. Thanks
The simple answer to part of your question is that pharmacies buy their generics from different manufacturers depending on availability. I've run into this several times with some of my generics and I went to the FDA site on this and found answers. I've included a link to that specific part of their site and posted the link below. The bottom line is that prescription drugs are regulated and include all of the same active ingredients whether they are brand or generic. They work the same and have the same side effects, interactions, and benefits. When you read the questions and answers from the link I provided, I hope they answer all your questions. If not, let me know and I can dig a bit deeper into my files and see what else I have. Keep in mind that this only applies to prescription meds and not supplements.
All medication, whether prescription or otc, are accompanied by a relevant patient information leaflet, (PIL). If this is not included in the packaging, it can be found online from the manufacturer. Most supplements should be the same, too. Really useful when trying to identify any ingredients that you have a sensitivity to.
Thank you actually I don’t know. I have discussed this with my Doctor but we can’t seem to pinpoint what it might be. Just an example, my pharmacy changed the Manufacturer on one of my meds. I was aware of it because the pill doubled in size. My eGFR dropped 7 points. That was the only change. I had them reorder the same MFG I had been taken for years and next blood test things returned to where they were. So I just try to stay with supplements that are organic and with the least amount of additives.
Now we seem to be speaking of prescription medications as well as supplements. All prescription medications are, by law, in the USA, required to contain the same active ingredients. The pharmacies purchase from different manufacturers based on availabilities. Size may be different, the shape may be different but the medicines, including side effects, and interactions will be the same. The difference is in the process of manufacturing. As a rule, supplements are not as well regulated and there can be major differences within the pill from each manufacturer. That is why you should never take a supplement without first checking with your physician(s).
Hi again, just wanted to throw in why I was carefully trying to choose a good Vit. D supplement. I am so aware that supplements are not as regulated. Totally agree my Doctor is aware of all supplements and we often discuss my sensitivity. Thanks again you are always helpful.
Thanks. This has been helpful.
Well put! Agreed!
Hi Dakot,
Just a thought, call your doctor and ask if there is a particular brand of Vitamin D that he/ she recommends, or if they would be good enough to write you a prescription for it.
My brother has a number of medical issues. When his Vitamin D level plummeted, our PCP wrote him a prescription for it; her suggestion and the insurance covered it.
Can’t hurt to ask.
Let me know the outcome.
Bet
Thank you.
Agree with you Bet11. Good idea to discuss with Doctor and take the Vitamin D3 bottle with you, along with your medicine list, so can look at any possible interactions with the Meds taking that could affect your kidneys. A Prescription could work well.
Thank you, Thankfully my Doctor is really good and we have great communication. She is aware of everything I take which I try to keep to a minimum.
Having good communication with your Doctor is important for our CKD
Sorry can't help you , but we need the body needs D3 from an animal source , not D2. Maybe also focus on different fishes that are high in D3
Fish is high in protein though that our damaged kidneys can’t deal with.
yes, that is why we eat smaller quantities
Do you think, on balance, that the benefits outweigh the risks ? I’m new to this so asking out of interest . Shellfish seem to definitely be a bad idea, maybe the occasional ( monthly?) piece of poached salmon ? I adore it and used to eat it often !
Hi there. I have never been told to avoid fish. Admittedly I cut down a lot on red meat as that is quite hard for our damaged kidneys to process but I always enjoyed salmon and lots of other fish. Obviously I don't know your labs but maybe check with your nephrologist or renal dietician if you have access to one as you maybe avoiding something that you don't need to.
I’d just been told to go low protein, so I’m almost exclusively plant based now. Takes some getting used to, but I have to say that I feel a lot better for it, but actually I think it’s the dairy foods that we’re making me feel awful. I’d love to have some fish again. I’ll definitely ask ! Thanks .
Yes I agree with the dairy certainly that made me feel rough. My blood results improved massively when I went vegan but unfortunately it was too late for me and I started dialysis 15 months ago. Well good luck with the fish. I found sticking to the vegan diet very hard I must say.
Wishing you well with dialysis ! I wish there was better information out there for all of us. Strikes me that much of the dietary advice is either from heart patients or from the 70’s ! Lee Hull and kidneyhood. com is the exception. Very well researched .
Thanks. It is actually going very well for me. I got right down to 7% eGFR before I started dialysis which is not to be recommended! Yes you are right about diet. In my experience in south east England the nephrologists don't seem to think it plays much of a part but I know from my own practical experience that it can have a major impact not just on slowing progression but on how well you feel. Well keep it up and I wish you all the best.
Thanks very much ! My GP doesn’t seem bothered, she says I’ll be fine ! To me that’s like saying to a very overweight person to carry on as they are until they’re obese and then they’ll do surgery... madness !
Hi SkiingSailor,
Give your doctor or RD a call when in doubt. Everyone's body and needs are different.
Omega 3 fish is healthy and works with many aspects of the system from calming autoimmune, to cholesterol to other issues.
See what the recommendation and portion is for you.
Let us know the outcome of your discussion. You may be very surprised.
Bet
In my previous reply to SkiingSailor I forgot to mention that ProRenal®+D is also available with EPA/DHA Essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ProRenal®+D with Omega-3 contains 1000 IU of Vitamin D and 1000mg of EPA/DHA Fish Oil with Omega-3 Fatty Acids per daily dose. myprorenal.com/products/pro...
I find that planning and tracking my diet according to my prescribed limits can help with portions. Davita has a good diet tracker.
Salmon doesn’t have a shell, so therefore isn’t a shellfish. I love salmon 
There is a Vegan D3 made from lichen (I would guess this is how it starts in the food chain originally)
Ohhh, that’s interesting ! Any more info ?
"The Wonderful World of Lichens
Our exclusive vegan Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) comes from a special, organic plant source called a Lichen. Lichens are small unique plant species consisting of a symbiotic association of a fungus with an algae. This gives them unique attributes such as surviving in extreme climates and having the ability to grow and accumulate meaningful levels of useful nutrients, including Vitamin D3!
There are many different species of Lichen, and we work with a carefully selected strain we have proved contains Vitamin D3. This makes the basis for the perfect Vitamin D supplementation. This truly is vegan and vegetarian Vitamin D3 - an alternative to animal derived supplements such as cod liver oil for those following a vegan diet or a vegetarian diet."
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I'm not sure if I can add the company name.
I was deficient in blood tests, after being told vegan D2 wasn't good enough and I'd have to consider the wool derived D3 version(another option if you are veggie), I found this UK companies vegan D3, my GP was surprised on the re-test that it got my levels back up to a good level. The same company do a D3/DHA/Omega vegan version, no idea how it compares to fish, health wise.
Hi and Thank you, a vegan product sounds more like what I might do well with. I am not sure if you can put a company name either but I think it would be helpful for myself as well as others.
vegetology.com/ was the company
Thank you for taking the time gonna take a look now.
I got a email from them saying the prices were going up on the 25th.
"We wanted to let you know that the price increase will take effect from Monday, 25th January 2021 and some of the bundle options will be discontinued. "
If you were thinking about it! 
This may seem a bit naive but I live in Singapore so we have abundant sunshine, I make sure my son who is a kidney patient is in the sun at least three times a week for 10-15 mins . His D is great.Can’t advise you on Brand’s but some of the Australian Brand’s are really good try looking into Blackmore ( I take their vit C & magnesium) look on line into the ingredients . Good luck.
Thank you, I live in Florida and I am in the sun several times a day but seems I still need a bit of help with supplements.
For CKD patients the body does not adequately process/convert VitD so one could spend hours per day in the sun and have poor vit D levels. Old school Healthcare professionals will say vit d levels are unimportant, but more and more studies prove that good Vit D levels is crucial for health, especially those with CKD, ESRD. Blessings
Yes thank you. I have done alot of reading and learning. Even though I believe I get enough of natural vit. D from the sun my Doc feels a supplement is still in order.
My Nephrologist and my Renal Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) (CDR) have me take ProRenal®+D daily kidney multivitamin. This kidney multivitamin was formulated by nephrologists and is endorsed by the National Kidney Foundation, Davita, and Fresenius Medical Care.
Thank you, I will take a look at this brand. Very appreciated
Yes do it’s Blackmore , it’s an Australian brand. Hope you have some luck.
Blackmores there’s an “s” at the end
Sadly, it looks as if this is only available on Amazon in the UK, not direct. Just A’s an example, it was recently shown that some online hand sanitizers weren’t fit for purpose, so that worries me .
I get mine directly from ProRenal®+D. They give a 5% discount for a Nephrologist referral and another 5% discount for automatic 90 day renewals. I called them and I was able to place my order over the telephone. Nice people.
I am not a sales person for Pro Renal nor do I have any interests in Pro Renal. I was just telling interested persons what multivitamin I take.
I’ve heard of that make , there’s also the probiotic Renadyl good
I am not a sales person for Pro Renal nor do I have any interests in Pro Renal. I was just telling interested persons what multivitamin I take.
Sounds really good stuff though !
Since you did not state which ingredients to which you are sensitive, it is impossible to say.
Try Dr Fuhrman.com they have excellent products created for purity
and effectiveness, but they have excellent standards and customer support.
James
Thank you so much for taking the time to write I will differently take a look.
I take ProRenal®+D{myprorenal.com/products/pro... } and I drink Silk Almond Milk {silk.com/plant-based-produc... for my daily vitamin D.
You can always use a prescription vitamin D ergocalciferol if I recall correctly. I have to take two a week. Do not know the ingredients. Ask your doctor if you’re a good candidate. My endo has me on D2 instead of D3, she said it’s better for kidney disease and my levels are finally out of deficient ranges.
Valsartan was recalled some time ago, Diovan too (the brand), and I guess it’s back on the market. It’s likely it caused some changes in manufacturing, so you can always use it’s counterpart (better if you ask me) Atacand, or Candesartan generic. Speak w your dr for more information.
There’s often a backstory on meds we know nothing about but I do find the newsletter email I subscribe to from the Drugs dot com to be helpful.
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