Treatment of senile osteoporosis with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3.

About 30% of patients with clinical osteoporosis had histological signs of osteomalacia, in spite of normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3). The excess osteoid disappeared during treatment with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha-OHD3). These patients might have reduced ability to convert 25-OHD3 to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). The intestinal calcium absorption increased during treatment with 1alpha-OHD3, but this was accompanied by a rise in urinary calcium excretion. Photon absorptiometry of the forearm indicated increased bone mineral content during treatment with a daily dose of 2 microgram 1alpha-OHD3 and a supplement of 1 g of calcium. This therapeutic combination, however, caused frequent episodes of hypercalcaemia, so further studies are necessary to evaluate an appropriate dose of 1alpha-OHD3 with or without a calcium supplement.