If the calcium supplement is to be used as a phosphate binder, it should be taken with meals. If the calcium supplement is intended to provide extra calcium, it should be taken at least an hour after meals so that it is not absorbed by the food. Another kind of necessary supplement in the management of children with chronic renal disease is the vitamin D hormone. There are different types of vitamin D, and these could be either DHT, calcitriol, or calcifediol. These supplements help the bones absorb calcium and therefore maintain a healthier structure and help somehow in the growth process.
Some questions remain about the usefulness and safety of using growth hormone in kidney patients.
Some studies suggest that growth hormone stimulates growth in children with chronic renal conditions or children undergoing maintenance dialysis treatment or transplantation. Other studies indicate that growth hormone may increase the chance for rejection of a transplanted kidney. Another set of studies suggests that use of growth hormone may help treat malnutrition both in children and in adult dialysis patients. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of The National Institutes of Health. October 2, 1998.