Update on recent progress in vitamin D research. Vitamin D treatment for hypoparathyroidism.

Abstract

The patients with hypoparathyroidism have been treated with active vitamin D(ie, alfacalcidol and calcitriol). Parathyroid hormone(PTH)increases extracellular calcium concentration partly through the activation of vitamin D, and active vitamin D corrects hypocalcemia mainly by increasing intestinal calcium abosorption. PTH coordinately increases blood calcium level with vitamin D in bone and kidney, however, renal tubular reabsorption of calcium is regulated by PTH-dependent mechanism. Hypercalciuria is an complication of long-term vitamin D treatment for PTH-deficient hypoparathyroidism.