From the Research
The kidneys release several important hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including erythropoietin, calcitriol, renin, and klotho, as evidenced by the study published in the American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology in 2015 1. The main hormones produced by the kidneys include:
- Erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow
- Calcitriol (active vitamin D), which enhances calcium absorption from the intestines and promotes bone health
- Renin, which activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance
- Klotho, which is involved in the regulation of mineral metabolism and other processes These hormones are crucial for maintaining homeostasis in the body, as they regulate blood composition, blood pressure, and mineral balance. Kidney disease can disrupt the production of these hormones, leading to complications such as anemia (from decreased EPO), bone disorders (from reduced calcitriol), and hypertension (from renin imbalance), as discussed in the study published in the Journal of the Formosan Medical Association in 2018 2. The kidneys also produce other hormones, such as prostaglandins, which help regulate blood flow within the kidneys and influence blood pressure, and urodilatin, a hormone that increases sodium excretion and urine output. The regulation of these hormones is complex and involves various cellular and molecular mechanisms, including the transcriptional factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which regulates EPO production, as described in the study published in the Journal of the Formosan Medical Association in 2018 2. Overall, the kidneys play a critical role in regulating various bodily functions through the production of these hormones, and disruptions in their production can have significant consequences for morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.