Not all kidney patients need extra calcium. Therefore, calcium supplementation requirements should be determined individually, as advised by a physician. Supplementation can be beneficial for some patients by supporting heart health. People often take heart health vitamins and cholesterol supplements that contain calcium, but in kidney patients, calcium can cause kidney stones or dangerously high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia). Excess calcium can lead to kidney stones when free calcium crystals fuse together and they cannot be easily excreted through the urine. Higher levels of calcium in the blood can sometimes lead to kidney damage, and severe levels can result in a permanent loss of kidney function. Always discuss your calcium regimen with your doctor.