Correlation Between Levels of 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D and Degree of Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Vitamin D exercises pleiotropic effects independently of calcium and phosphorous homeostasis. Purpose: To analyze the possible correlation between levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and other parameters of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients and methods: One hundred and forty-five patients with stage-5 CKD were studied (mean age 65.9 ± 14.6 years; 74 males and 71 females; Levels of 25(OH)D, age, bone alkaline phosphatase, procollagen I amino-terminal propeptide, carboxyterminal telopeptide of collagen I, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), bio-PTH, hemoglobin, hematocrit, urea, creatinine, total proteins, albumin, iron, iron saturation index, calcium, phosphorous, total alkaline phosphatase, serum CO 2, cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, prealbumin, ferritin, proBNP, and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) were determined. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and p values were analyzed. Results: This work show a positive correlation between levels of 25(OH)D and anemia (i.e., hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, iron saturation index, and ferritin). Conclusion: These results show the close relationship between the degree of anemia in patients with CKD and 25(OH)D levels. It is of great importance to maintain levels of 25(OH)D in patients with advanced-stage CKD, as this can decrease anemia levels and, in turn, lower quantities of erythropoietin would be necessary to maintain hematocrit.