Elevated metabolic clearance rate of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in hyperthyroidism

Metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and daily production rate (DPR) of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) were measured in 7 hyperthyroid patients and 8 control subjects after a single injection of tritiated 1,25(OH)2D3. Using a bicompartmental analysis, MCR of 1,25(OH)2D3 was found to be significantly higher in hyperthyroid than in control subjects (11.5 +/- 4.4 vs 5.9 +/- 2.4 ml/min (SD), P less than 0.01). No significant difference in plasma 1,25(OH)2D and DPR of 1,25(OH)2D3 was demonstrated. MCR was again measured 1 month after initiation of treatment in 4 hyperthyroid patients and remained elevated. In 2 of these patients, MCR was once more determined 6 months later and had declined towards normal. No correlation was found between MCR and DPR and either plasma calcium, phosphate, immunoreactive PTH, 1,25(OH)D and T3 values. In conclusion, MCR of 1,25(OH)2D3 is elevated in hyperthyroidism, but this finding is probably unrelated to the effect of thyroid hormones on bone metabolism.