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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Vitamin D: an important treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease?

  • 2024-12-30
  • International urology and nephrology 57(6)
    • Jie Yu
    • Yulu Li
    • Bin Zhu
    • Jianqin Shen
    • Liying Miao

Study Design

Type
Review
Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the most common complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vitamin D levels begin to decrease in the early stages of CKD, and these vitamin D-related changes play a central role in the occurrence and development of SHPT. Vitamin D-based drugs, which inhibit parathyroid hormone secretion either directly or indirectly, are commonly used to treat SHPT. However, vitamin D-based drugs can also lead to a dysregulated balance between serum calcium and phosphorus, as well as other adverse reactions. Over the past several decades, researchers have conducted in-depth studies on the pathogenesis of SHPT, developed new vitamin D-based drugs, and explored combinatory methods to improve treatment efficacy for the disease. Here, we review vitamin D metabolism, the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency in patients with CKD, the pathogenesis of SHPT, the pharmacological effects of vitamin D drugs, and the benefits and side effects of using vitamin D to treat SHPT.

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