A pilot study of metabolic effects of intravenously given alpha-calcidol in patients with chronic renal failure

Disturbances of calcium homeostasis might be involved in the pathogenesis of the metabolic derangements associated with uraemia. Indices of glucose and lipoprotein metabolism as well as blood pressure were measured in nine patients with chronic renal failure who were on regular hemodialysis. Seven of them thereafter received alpha-calcidol (a synthetic analogue to active vitamin D) intravenously for three months. Prior to therapy the patients had, compared with age and sex matched controls, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperlipoporteinemia and raised blood pressure. Treatment with alpha-calcidol reduced elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Concomitantly there was a reduction of fasting blood glucose and HbA1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) concentrations and an improvement of the glucose tolerance, whereas insulin concentrations were unaffected. There was a reduction of whole serum triglycerides and an increase of HDL cholesterol. A significant decrease was also observed for systolic blood pressure. This pilot study suggests that treatment with active vitamin D, probably through its effects on calcium metabolism, is beneficial with regard to the metabolic disturbances in uraemia.