| [ Summary ] |
Little is known about the metabolic characteristics of vitamin D in diabetic patients with chronic renal failure. In our studies of predialysis patients with chronic renal failure, there was a condition of hypovitaminosis D [a significant decrease in serum 25 (OH) - vitamin D] in diabetics, although there was little hypovitaminosis D in non-diabetics. Serum 1, 25 (OH)2 - vitamin D was also significantly decreased in diabetics, compared to non-diabetics. Since extra-renal 24-hydroxylase is present, an active form of vitamin D may be preferred for vitamin D supplementation in patients with hypovitaminosis D. In our studies of hemodialysis patients, 1, 25 (OH)2 - vitamin D was markedly decreased in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. It is a principal to administer an active form of vitamin D to these patients, since 1α-hydroxylase is abrogated and extra-renal 24-hydroxylase is still active. |