Vitamin D 2 to Dialysis Patients
Vitamin D 2 to Dialysis Patients
Vitamin D is necessary for healthy bones. Vitamin D is made in our skin when we are exposed
 to sunlight, but it is also found in foods that we eat and in vitamin pills. Low levels of
 vitamin D are common in many groups of people, because we do not get enough sun during the
 winter and because we eat few foods that have vitamin D in them. Some foods with vitamin D
 are salmon, mackerel, tuna, and fortified milk, which has had vitamin D added to it.

 We know that nearly all kidney disease patients on dialysis do not have enough vitamin D in
 their bodies. We believe this condition can cause muscle weakness, leading to falls and
 broken bones. These are common problems for patients who are receiving dialysis. For example,
 dialysis patients have a much higher risk of hip fractures (broken hips). However, no formal
 research has been done on patients with low vitamin D levels receiving dialysis, to see if
 they actually have muscle weakness and related problems.

 There are two goals of this study. First, we want to see if patients on dialysis who have low
 vitamin D levels are actually at risk for muscle weakness, muscle pain, and broken bones. We
 also want to find out if giving vitamin D pills to these patients will result in better
 muscle strength, less muscle pain, and fewer falls.

 In this study, we will compare vitamin D to placebo. Placebo capsules look exactly like
 vitamin D capsules but contain no active ingredients. We use placebos in research studies to
 be sure that the study results are due to the study drug and not to other reasons.
Inclusion criteria:

 Age ³ 18, CKD on hemodialysis, men and women, hemoglobin ³ 9g/dl, albumin ³ 3.0g/dl, no
 recent (in the last three months) admissions to the hospital, ability to walk ten feet with
 or without a walking aid.

 Exclusion criteria:

 Subjects who are pregnant or lactating; subjects with history of kidney stones, malabsorption
 syndromes, tertiary hyperparathyroidism defined by a parathyroid hormone of >500pg/ml,
 current use of corticosteroids, non-ambulatory subjects (for example paraplegic subjects),
 serious fracture in the last three months, and corrected calcium levels of 10.5 mg/dl or
 greater.
Inclusion criteria:

 -  Age ³ 18

 -  CKD on hemodialysis

 -  Men and women

 -  Hemoglobin ³ 9g/dl, albumin ³ 3.0g/dl,

 -  No recent (in the last three months) admissions to the hospital

 -  Ability to walk ten feet with or without a walking aid.

 Exclusion criteria:

 -  Subjects who are pregnant or lactating

 -  Subjects with history of kidney stones

 -  Malabsorption syndromes

 -  Tertiary hyperparathyroidism defined by a parathyroid hormone of >500pg/ml, current
 use of corticosteroids

 -  Non-ambulatory subjects (for example paraplegic subjects)

 -  Serious fracture in the last three months, and

 -  Corrected calcium levels of 10.5 mg/dl or greater.