Native Vitamin D in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease not Treated with Dialysis

Abstract

Vitamin D metabolism is involved in the regulation of bone metabolism and calcium homeostasis. Vitamin D receptors are, however, detectable in several tissues and organs not directly involved in the regulation of mineral metabolism; furthermore, not only bone cells, but also other cell types can synthesize active vitamin D. Altogether, these findings have suggested that vitamin D may have other potential effects in addition to the commonly known effects on mineral metabolism. Vitamin D deficiency can induce bone disease development and represents an important risk factor for neoplastic, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on the results of the main randomized trials on vitamin D supplementation in the general population and in patients with chronic kidney disease.