A new role for vitamin D receptor activation in chronic kidney disease

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2009 Dec;297(6):F1502-9. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00130.2009. Epub 2009 Jul 22.

Abstract

Vitamin D has proven to be much more than a simple "calcium hormone." The fact that the vitamin D receptor has been found in cells not related to mineral metabolism supports that statement. The interest of nephrologists in vitamin D and its effects beyond mineral metabolism has increased over the last few years, evidencing the importance of this so-called "sunshine hormone." In the present review, we highlight the most recent developments in the traditional use of vitamin D in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, namely, the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT). Furthermore, we also explore the data available regarding the new possible therapeutic uses of vitamin D for the treatment of other complications present in CKD patients, such as vascular calcification, left ventricular hypertrophy, or proteinuria. Finally, some still scarce but very promising data regarding a possible role of vitamin D in kidney transplant patients also are reviewed. The available data point to a potential beneficial effect of vitamin D in CKD patients beyond the control of mineral metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcinosis / drug therapy
  • Calcinosis / etiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Hyperparathyroidism / drug therapy*
  • Hyperparathyroidism / etiology*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / drug therapy
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / etiology
  • Kidney Diseases / complications*
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Postoperative Care
  • Proteinuria / drug therapy
  • Proteinuria / etiology
  • Vascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Vascular Diseases / etiology
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamin D