Renal Failure & Vitamin D

Patients with chronic kidney disease, or CKD, have vitamin D deficiency. Under normal conditions, calcitriol regulates parathyroid hormone, or PTH. But when calcitirol levels are low in renal failure, the parathryroid gland becomes enlarged and PTH levels rise, a condition called secondary hyperparathryroidism. Elevated PTH levels cause an increase in calcium in the blood, leading to calcifications and blockage in blood vessels, especially those of the heart. This leads to heart attacks. Elevated PTH levels also cause problems with bone mineralization, leading to osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/318087-renal-failure-vitamin-d/#ixzz1Er8idoZm