Vitamin D supplementation reverses renal injury

In patients with glomerular disease, vitamin D deficiency correlates with the occurrence of proteinuria, but vitamin D supplementation is controversial. Now, researchers report that 1,25-vitamin D₃ deficiency leads to glomerular injury and renal dysfunction in rats and in 25-hydroxyvitamin-D₃-1α-hydroxylase knockout mice. These animals developed proteinuria, partial podocyte foot process effacement and altered expression of podocyte markers, which could be prevented or reversed by supplementation with 1,25-vitamin D₃ or 1,25-vitamin D₂. The researchers speculate that early vitamin D supplementation might also prevent or reverse renal injury in patients with glomerular disease and chronic renal insufficiency.