title: Oral supplementation with cholecalciferol 800 IU ameliorates albuminuria in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low vitamin D levels can be associated with albuminuria, and vitamin D analogs are effective anti-proteinuric agents. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in vitamin D levels between those with micro- and those with macroalbuminuria, and to determine whether low dose cholecalciferol increases vitamin D levels and ameliorates albuminuria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two studies were performed in which 25-OH vitamin D(3) (25(OH)D(3)) concentrations were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay: 1) a cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 481) and healthy controls (n = 78); and 2) a longitudinal study of T2DM patients with albuminuria treated with conventional doses, 800 IU, of cholecalciferol for 6 months (n = 22), and a control group (n = 24).
  
  
  RESULTS
  1) Cross-sectional study: Compared to controls and T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria, serum 25(OH)D(3) concentrations were significantly lower in patients with macro-albuminuria, but not in those with micro-albuminuria. Serum 25(OH)D(3) levels were independently correlated with microalbuminuria. 2) Longitudinal study: Cholecalciferol significantly decreased microalbuminuria in the early stages of treatment, in conjunction with an increase in serum 25(OH)D(3) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low vitamin D levels are common in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria, particularly in patients with macroalbuminuria, but not in those with microalbuminuria. Conventional doses of cholecalciferol may have antiproteinuric effects on Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Haoyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Junxi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Kaifeng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Haibing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol