1,25(OH)2D3 and renal function. A controlled clinical study in normal elderly women.

A controlled study of the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was performed in 58 normal 70-year-old Danish women. After 6 months; observation of the spontaneous course the participants were randomized to treatment with either 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.5 micrograms daily) or placebo. Both groups received 500 mg calcium daily. Seven out of 20 participants treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 developed slight hypercalcaemia which disappeared after dose adjustment. One participant in the placebo group developed slight hypercalcaemia. A highly significant increase in serum creatinine was observed in the 1,25(OH)2D3 group when compared with the initial value and with the change in the placebo group. Serum creatinine remained elevated throughout the study despite normalization of serum calcium. It is concluded that 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment in normal, elderly women has a negative effect on the renal function as estimated from serum creatinine.