Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why can chronic kidney disease lead to bone disease?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

organs of the renal system — renal system disease Organs of the renal system.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to bone disease, often referred to as renal osteodystrophy, primarily due to the kidneys' failing ability to maintain mineral balance.

In healthy individuals, the kidneys help regulate calcium and phosphate levels and activate vitamin D. When kidney function declines, the body struggles to excrete phosphate and effectively activate vitamin D, resulting in high phosphate levels and low calcium levels in the blood.1

This chemical imbalance triggers secondary hyperparathyroidism, where the parathyroid glands overproduce parathyroid hormone (PTH) in an attempt to restore calcium levels. PTH stimulates the breakdown of bone to release calcium into the bloodstream. Over time, this excessive bone resorption weakens the bone structure, potentially replacing healthy tissue with fibrous tissue and increasing the risk of fractures and skeletal deformities.1