**Vitamin D and Renal Disease**

Jean J. Filipov, Borelli K. Zlatkov and Emil P. Dimitrov Jean J. Filipov, Borelli K. Zlatkov and Emil P. Dimitrov

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/64552

#### **Abstract**

The metabolism of vitamin D (VD) is severely impaired in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Uremia isnotonlyassociatedwiththe reductionofits active form1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D but also in the reduction of all VD metabolites. CKD-associated abnormalities in VD are part of the CKD-related mineral-bone disease. However, VD has beneficial effect on the kidneys due to its pleiotropic effects, namely, antiproteinuric effect and reninangiotensin-aldosterone system suppression, thus making the relationship between VD and the kidney even more complicated. The aim of our chapter is to reveal the changes in vitamin D axis in CKD, to outline the possible beneficial effects of vitamin D in renal patients, including end-stage renal patients and kidney transplant recipients, and to address the current opinions concerning treatment with cholecalciferol, calcitriol, and vitamin D analogs.

**Keywords:** vitamin D, chronic kidney disease, mineral bone disease, kidney transplantation, pleiotropic effects
