Alfacalcidol is a form of vitamin D. It is converted rapidly in the liver to the active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol). In the normal situation it controls the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate and plays an important part in the regulation of bone mineralisation. In chronic renal failure, the kidneys produce insufficient calcitriol and this leads to abnormalities of calcium and phosphate metabolism. Oral administration of alfacalcidol to patients with chronic renal failure compensates for the reduced production of calcitriol. Consequently, intestinal malabsorption of calcium and phosphate and the resulting hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium levels) are improved, thereby reversing the signs and symptoms of bone disease. Alfacalcidol is also given to provide a more rapid increase in active vitamin D and hence calcium, in people with various bone diseases. As this form of vitamin D only requires one conversion to become calcitriol, it provides a quicker response than giving normal dietary vitamin D. supplements.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001925.html On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Kirsteen Wright<[email protected]> wrote: > Sorry this off yopic but I really don't know where else to ask. I believe > we're probably all short of Vit D especially here in Scotland. I'd ordered > some supplements (Biolife Vit D3) and started taking them. I persuaded my > doc to test my blood levels (no idea what test they actually did) and he > agreed I wasmarginally low. so prescribed One-Alpha 0.25mcg alfacalcidol. > now I may just be highly suspicious of the medical profession but this looks > more like a medicine than a drug and I'm finding it very hard to get any > info on it. Does anyone know anything about it? > > thanks > Kirsteen > -- The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver. Instructions for unsubscribing are posted at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: [email protected] Address Off-Topic messages to: [email protected] The Silver List and Off Topic List archives are currently down... List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
