Vitamin D Receptor Activation Reduces Albuminuria in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

Although angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) slow the decline of renal function in patients with diabetes, patients who receive these agents often have residual albuminuria and risk for renal failure. Prior studies have suggested that vitamin D receptor activation further reduces albuminuria and slows progression of renal insufficiency.

In a manufacturer-sponsored randomized trial, 281 patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy received either 1 µg or 2 µg daily of oral paricalcitol (Zemplar), a selective vitamin D receptor activator licensed for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in end-stage renal disease, or placebo. All patients had been taking stable doses of an ACE-I or …