Vitamin-D metabolism in nephrotic syndrome.

Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-OHD3) and vitamin-D-binding globulin (V.D.B.G.) were significantly reduced in ten nephrotic subjects. V.D.B.G., which is undetectable in normal urine, was present in substantial amounts in the urine of each nephrotic subject. Administration of 3H-labelled cholecalciferol to three subjects resulted in the rapid appearance of the labelled vitamin in the urine, mainly as the 25-hydroxylated metabolite bound to V.D.B.G. in amounts which could largely account for the low plasma-25-OHD3. The plasma half-life of 25-OHD3 was substantially reduced in the nephrotic syndrome.