Acute, but not chronic, metabolic acidosis disturbs 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 metabolism

Previous studies in vitamin D deficient animals showing that acidosis may impair the production of 1,25(OH)2D3 are in conflict with studies in humans which have not shown convincing disturbances of 25OHD3 metabolism during acidosis. We have investigated the effect on renal 25OHD3 1- and 24-hydroxylase of acid loading for periods of 24 hr to 21 days. Acid loading resulted in immediate and sustained decrements in arterial pH and bicarbonate and increments in blood-ionized calcium. Acute (24-hr) acid loading decreased 1- and increased 24-hydroxylase activity. After 6 days of acid loading, no effect on 1- hydroxylase activity was observed and that on 24-hydroxylase activity was reduced. By 21 days the effect of acidosis on 24-hydroxylase activity was no longer observed. The results show that acidosis disturbs 25OHD3 metabolism in the physiological vitamin D and calcium replete state as well as in the vitamin D deficient state, but only acutely. Our data are consistent with studies in humans and suggest that, while short-term disturbances of 25OHD3 metabolism occur early in acidosis, they are transient and may not be causally related to the development of metabolic bone disease during chronic acidosis.