Aluminum Metabolism in Rats: Effects of Vitamin D, Dihydrotachysterol, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D and Phosphate Binders

Abstract

In order to study the effects of vitamin D on aluminium balance when different forms of vitamin D and phosphate binders are used simultaneously for therapeutic purposes, 30 Sprague-Dawley weanling rats, weighing 44–66 g, were randomly assigned to 5 groups: (A) control, (B) aluminum hydroxide, (C) dihydrotachysterol at 16 µg/kg/day, (D) 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D at 16 ng/kg/day and (E) vitamin D at 2,000 IU/kg/day. Aluminum hydroxide (60 mg/kg/day) in the feed was provided to all except the control group. The vitamin D or metabolites were fed by stomach tube daily for a period of 10 days. At the end of the study, the mean ( ± SEM) serum aluminum concentration, as determined by nameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry, was 5.0 ± 2.4 µg/l; there were no significant differences in these results between groups. During the last three days of the study, 24-hour urine and stool collections were made with the usual precautions against trace mineral contamination. The means ( ± SEM) of aluminum balances for groups A, B, C, D and E were -388 ± 261,1,121 ± 331; 2,316 ± 304; 2,387 ± 245, and 1,968 ± 337 µg/day, respectively. We conclude that at therapeutic doses of aluminum hydroxide and vitamin D or its metabolites, hyperaluminemia was not observed. However, the positive aluminum balances imply retention, and the use of vitamin D, especially its potent metabolites dihydrotachysterol and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, intensified this risk.