Vitamin D metabolism in osteogenesis imperfecta during calcitonin therapy.

The effect of calcitonin on plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] was studied in six patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. The mean pretreatment value of plasma 1,25-(OH)2D was significantly higher than the mean value of age-matched control subjects (P less than .05). High or normal plasma levels of 1,25-(OH)2D before calcitonin therapy were decreased after 1 month of therapy and remained normal thereafter in all six patients. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, which were normal before calcitonin injection, remained normal during calcitonin administration. These results indicate that there may be acute and chronic effects of calcitonin on vitamin D metabolism.