The renal disease diet includes which mineral adjustment?

The renal disease diet includes which mineral adjustment?

• A. High calcium
• B. Low calcium
• C. High phosphorus
• D. Low magnesium

Answer: (A)

In kidney disease, mineral balance gets scrambled because the kidneys can’t excrete phosphate well and vitamin D activation is reduced. A common dietary approach is to control phosphate while keeping calcium levels sufficient to protect bones and reduce secondary hyperparathyroidism. Increasing calcium intake helps in two ways: it supports normal serum calcium and provides calcium that can bind dietary phosphate in the gut, limiting phosphate absorption. That’s why a higher calcium adjustment is used in the renal disease diet. Lowering calcium would worsen hypocalcemia and stimulate the parathyroid response, while high phosphorus or low magnesium aren’t the primary targets in this context.

In kidney disease, mineral balance gets scrambled because the kidneys can’t excrete phosphate well and vitamin D activation is reduced. A common dietary approach is to control phosphate while keeping calcium levels sufficient to protect bones and reduce secondary hyperparathyroidism. Increasing calcium intake helps in two ways: it supports normal serum calcium and provides calcium that can bind dietary phosphate in the gut, limiting phosphate absorption. That’s why a higher calcium adjustment is used in the renal disease diet. Lowering calcium would worsen hypocalcemia and stimulate the parathyroid response, while high phosphorus or low magnesium aren’t the primary targets in this context.