Aminoaciduria of vitamin D deficiency is independent of PTH levels and urinary cyclic AMP

Abstract

Aminoaciduria and secondary hyperparathyroidism accompany vitamin D deficiency. However, the degree of aminoaciduria and PTH elevation have not been studied relative to different calcium and phosphorus dietary intakes. Weanling rats were fed 5 vitamin D deficient diets for 4-6 weeks: very low Ca (VLC) 0.02% Ca, 0.3% P; VLC + 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], same + 500 pmol i.p. for 2 days; low Ca (LC) 0.45% Ca, 0.3% P; very low P (VLP) 1.2% Ca, 0.1% P; high Ca (HC) 2.5% Ca, 0.3% P, and control 1.2% Ca, 0.70% P + 2.5 micrograms% vitamin D. Amino acids, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3], 1,25(OH)2D3, and PTH, using a specific antirat PTH antibody, were measured. A significant generalized aminoaciduria (11 amino acids) was found in all vitamin D-deficient groups. Furthermore, it was independent of plasma Ca and PTH, and urinary cAMP excretion irrespective of diet. Serum 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D were significantly reduced in all vitamin D-deficient groups. VLC and VLC + 1,25(OH)2D3 were associated with the highest PTH levels (10- and 13-fold increase, respectively) and urinary cAMP (2.3-fold increase in each) and the lowest serum Ca. LC rats had an 8.8- and a 1.7-fold increase in PTH and urinary cAMP, respectively. Phosphate depletion was found in VLP rats documented by insignificantly elevated PTH, normal urinary cAMP, hypercalciuria, and percent tubular reabsorption of phosphate of greater than 99%. While dietary Ca and P affect plasma and urinary Ca and P plasma PTH and urinary cAMP, it appears that dietary P affects the aminoaciduria observed in this study via mechanisms that remain unclear. The possibility that the mechanism for the tubulopathy is multifactorial should be entertained.