Effect of 1 alpha hydroxylated vitamin D on steroid induced calcium malabsorption.
As persistent bone loss is a major problem of chronic steroid therapy the effects of 3 weeks therapy with 1 alpha hydroxycholecalciferol were studied in 10 kidney transplant recipients on chronic steroid therapy. Treatment resulted in a significant increase in intestinal calcium absorption, paralleled by a significant decrease of serum iPTH, whereas neither plasma calcium nor urinary calcium excretion rose significantly, suggesting a positive calcium balance throughout the study. It is therefore suggested that administration of active vitamin D metabolites is an effective protection against one of the pathogenic mechanisms of steroid induced osteopenia.
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002128:Calcium Metabolism Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium; C008088:alfacalcidol