Short-term effects of vitamin D receptor activation on serum creatinine, creatinine generation, and glomerular filtration

Vitamin D receptor activation may have pleiotropic effects in a variety of tissues. Experimental studies with vitamin D receptor activation demonstrate an ability to delay progression of renal disease. In humans, vitamin D receptor activation reduces albuminuria. Yet some clinical studies demonstrate that patients receiving vitamin D supplementation have an elevation in serum creatinine and a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate. These observations may be explainable by an effect of vitamin D receptor activation on creatinine metabolism. Kidney International (2011) 80, 1016-1017. doi:10.1038/ki.2011.265