title: The hormonal form of vitamin D in the pathophysiology and therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: Sixty-two women with symptomatic postmenopausal osteoporosis underwent long-term treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The following results were obtained: i) a dramatic improvement of the intestinal transport of radioactive calcium, which was impaired prior to the treatment; ii) non significant increases in fasting serum calcium; iii) significant increases in the 24 h urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate, resulting from the improvement of intestinal calcium absorption, and a decrease in the urinary cAMP/Cr ratio; iv) non significant changes in serum phosphate, serum alkaline phosphatase, urinary hydroxyproline; v) non significant increases in bone mineral content; vi) relief from pain and improvement of motility in all the patients; vii) no side effect was noticed. In conclusion the treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was shown to be useful in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D003404:Creatinine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium