A new role for vitamin D receptor activation in chronic kidney disease.
Vitamin D has proven to be much more than a simple "calcium hormone." The fact that the vitamin D receptor has been found in cells not related to mineral metabolism supports that statement. The interest of nephrologists in vitamin D and its effects beyond mineral metabolism has increased over the last few years, evidencing the importance of this so-called "sunshine hormone." In the present review, we highlight the most recent developments in the traditional use of vitamin D in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, namely, the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT). Furthermore, we also explore the data available regarding the new possible therapeutic uses of vitamin D for the treatment of other complications present in CKD patients, such as vascular calcification, left ventricular hypertrophy, or proteinuria. Finally, some still scarce but very promising data regarding a possible role of vitamin D in kidney transplant patients also are reviewed. The available data point to a potential beneficial effect of vitamin D in CKD patients beyond the control of mineral metabolism.
Valdivielso
José M
JM
Laboratorio de Nefrología Experimental, IRBLLEIDA, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain. valdivielso@medicina.udl.es
Cannata-Andía
Jorge
J
Coll
Blai
B
Fernández
Elvira
E
D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014807:Vitamin D