Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on osteopenia induced by prednisolone in adult rats.

Adult male rats were fed a diet containing 0.15% calcium, 0.3% phosphorus, an either 100, 50, or 20 mg of prednisolone per kg of diet. All these levels of prednisolone led to osteopenia, decreased intestinal absorption of calcium, slightly lower serum calcium and phosphorus, and a decreased level of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Exogenous parenteral 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 corrected steroid-induced changes in serum calcium and phosphorus, but could not completely correct the low intestinal calcium transport; nor did it prevent the development of osteopenia. The prednisolone-induced osteopenia seems at least in part to be caused by impaired intestinal calcium transport. The impaired calcium transport may be the result of low levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and a direct effect of presnisolone on the intestine.