Clinical Nutrition

Lesson 29: Renal disease

Functions of the Kidney

Kidney act like a 24-hour cleaning crew for the blood.

• They filter out waste products. They get rid of excess water. They balance electrolytes in blood such as potassium and sodium. They remove excess acid.
• They regulate blood pressure.
• They also produce a hormone erythropoietin to help the bone marrow make red blood cells.
• They maintain Calcium levels in the body.
• The kidneys also function as a part of the endocrine system producing erythropoietin and calcitriol. Erythropoietin is involved in the production of red blood cells and calcitriol plays a role in bone formation