Effect of cholecalciferol on vitamin D-regulatory proteins in monocytes and on inflammatory markers in dialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial

Summary Background & aims Hypovitaminosis D and inflammation are highly prevalent among patients undergoing dialysis, and the association of both conditions with worse survival has been well recognized. Although a potential role for vitamin D in the immune system has been suggested, the effect of the treatment of hypovitaminosis D on the modulation of the inflammatory response remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the restoration of the vitamin D status on the expression of vitamin D-regulatory proteins in monocytes and on circulating inflammatory markers in dialysis patients. Methods In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 12-week trial, 38 patients on dialysis with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01974245. Results After 12 weeks, the serum 25(OH)D increased from 14.3 ± 4.7 ng/mL to 43.1 ± 11.0 ng/mL (p  Conclusions Restoration of vitamin D status of patients undergoing dialysis promoted upregulation of CYP27B1 and VDR expression in monocytes and a decrease in circulating inflammatory markers.