HEMODIALYSIS

VITAMIN D
(1 microgram = 0.001 milligrams)

1. Doses of calcitriol vitamin D (2 micrograms after dialysis/twice/week) improved ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients with hyperparathyroidism.

Am J Kidney Dis. 1999 Jan;33(1):73-81. 
Intravenous calcitriol regresses myocardial hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Park CW, Oh YS, Shin YS, Kim CM, Kim YS, Kim SY, Choi EJ, Chang YS, Bang BK.
PMID: 9915270

2. Treatment with vitamin C (200 mg/day) for 3 months reduced total cholesterol, LDL and LDL/HDL ratio in hemodialysis patients. Vitamin D therapy (50,000 IU/day) decreased triglyceride and triglyceride/HDL ration while vitamin E (200 mg/day for 3 months) decreased HDL and LDL/HDL ratio.

Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2000 Feb;34(1):62-6. 
Effect of vitamins on the lipid profile of patients on regular hemodialysis.
Khajehdehi P.
PMID: 10757273

3. Doses of vitamin D (0.5 – 1.0 microgram for 36 months) lowered high parathyroid levels in hemodialysis patients.

Ren Fail. 1999 Mar;21(2):199-207. 
Long-term effects of small doses of calcitriol in hemodialysis patients with moderate secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Vlassopoulos D, Noussias C, Revenas K, Hadjilouka-Mantaka A, Arvanitis D, Tzortzis G, Hadjiconstantinou V.
PMID: 10088180

4. Doses of vitamin D (calcitriol 1 – 2 micrograms intravenously after dialysis) improved cardiac functioning in hemodialysis patients with hyperparathyroidism.

Am J Nephrol. 1998;18(5):404-10. 
Effect of intravenous calcitriol on cardiac systolic and diastolic function in patients on hemodialysis.
Lemmila S, Saha H, Virtanen V, Ala-Houhala I, Pasternack A.
PMID: 9730564

5. Treatment with intravenous calcitriol (2 micrograms after hemodialysis) improved anemia and increased hemoglobin levels and controlled hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients.

Nephron. 1998;78(1):23-7. 
Intravenous calcitriol improves anaemia and reduces the need for erythropoietin in haemodialysis patients.
Goicoechea M, Vazquez MI, Ruiz MA, Gomez-Campdera F, Perez-Garcia R, Valderrabano F.
PMID: 9453399

6. Doses of intravenous calcitriol (1 microgram after hemodialysis) for 1 year effectively treated hyperparathyroidism, and increased bone mineral density in patients on hemodialysis.

Am J Nephrol. 1997;17(2):118-23. 
Long-term effect of intravenous calcitriol on the treatment of severe hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid gland mass and bone mineral density in haemodialysis patients.
Huraib S, Abu-Aisha H, Abed J, Al Wakeel J, Al Desouki M, Memon N.
PMID: 9096441

7. A single weekly dose of calcitriol (0.05 micrograms per kilogram body weight) suppressed hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Adv Perit Dial. 1994;10:267-9. 
Long-term effect of oral calcitriol single weekly pulse in CAPD and in HD.
Romanini D, Gazo A, Bellazzi R, de Vincenzi A, Nai M, Santagostino M.
PMID: 7999842

FOLIC ACID

8. Intravenous treatment with folinic acid (0.9 mg), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamine 1.5 mg and hydroxycobalamine 1.5 mg) 3 times/week after dialysis significantly reduced homocysteine levels in hemodialysis patients as compared to untreated patients.

G Ital Nefrol. 2002 May-Jun;19(3):301-7. 
[Intravenous folinic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation and homocysteine concentration in hemodialysis patients]
[Article in Italian]
Corghi E, Patrosso C, Bamonti F, Baragetti I, Novembrino C, Lando G, De Franceschi M, Buccianti G.
PMID: 12195398

9. Treatment with folic acid (oral 15 mg/day) combined with intravenous methylcobalamin (500 mg after each hemodialysis) normalized homocysteine levels in hemodialysis patients compared to the control group. The addition of vitamin B6 did not alter the effectiveness of treatment. This treatment could be of benefit to patients with renal failure who are at risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002 May;17(5):916-22. 
Efficacy of methylcobalamin on lowering total homocysteine plasma concentrations in haemodialysis patients receiving high-dose folic acid supplementation.
Koyama K, Usami T, Takeuchi O, Morozumi K, Kimura G.
PMID: 11981084

10. Treatment with folic acid (intravenous 45 mg/week) for 10 weeks adding vitamin B12 (injected 500 micrograms) in the last 2 weeks, reduced homocysteine levels and improved endothelial functioning in hemodialysis patients with renal failure.

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002 May;17(5):857-64. 
5-methyltetrahydrofolate restores endothelial function in uraemic patients on convective haemodialysis.
Buccianti G, Raselli S, Baragetti I, Bamonti F, Corghi E, Novembrino C, Patrosso C, Maggi FM, Catapano AL.
PMID: 11981074

11. Different dosing methods of folic acid: 1) calcium folinate (50 mg/week intravenous), 2) calcium folinate (50 mg/week oral), 3) folic acid (45 mg/week oral) combined with intravenous vitamin B6 (750 mg/week) and oral vitamin B12 (3 mg/week) for 6 months all had similar and significant effect on reducing homocysteine levels in hemodialysis patients.

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002 May;17(5):865-70. 
Hyperhomocysteinaemia therapy in haemodialysis patients: folinic versus folic acid in combination with vitamin B6 and B12.
Ducloux D, Aboubakr A, Motte G, Toubin G, Fournier V, Chalopin JM, Drueke T, Massy ZA.
PMID: 11981075

12. Hemodialysis patients received vitamin E (400 mg after each session) for 3 months. After 1 month, they received folic acid (10 mg intravenously after hemodialysis). The folic acid reduced homocysteine levels and prevents lipid peroxidation which can reduce risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients.

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2001 Nov;16(11):2172-5. 
Homocysteine and lipid peroxidation in haemodialysis: role of folinic acid and vitamin E.
Bayes B, Pastor MC, Bonal J, Junca J, Romero R.
PMID: 11682663

13. Oral doses of calcium folinate (30 mg/3 times/week), vitamin B12 (500 mg/3 times/week) and vitamin B6 (200 mg/3 times/week) after hemodialysis sessions, reduced homocysteine levels in patients on hemodialysis.

Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2001 Jun;53(2):57-9. 
[Effectiveness of oral supplements of folates, vitamins B12 and B6 in hemodialysed patients. Preliminary results after 5 months of follow-up]
[Article in Italian]
Sepe V, Ottone S, Patrucco G, Cecere P, Colombo P, Cagna G, Costantini L, Piccini G, Filiberti O, Peona C.
PMID: 11455311

IRON

14. Doses of intravenous iron (100 mg/week for 5 weeks and 100 mg twice/month for 6 months) corrected iron deficiency in hemodialysis patients.

Rev Med Chil. 2002 Aug;130(8):865-8. 
[Correction of anemia in hemodialysis, effect of intravenous iron without erythropoietin]
[Article in Spanish]
Alvo M, Elgueta L, Aragon H, Cotera A.
PMID: 12360794

15. Doses of intravenous iron (40 mg/week for 10 weeks or during first 10 hemodialysis sessions) restored response to human erythropoietin therapy in patients on hemodialysis.

Nephron. 2001 Sep;89(1):110-2. 
Effect of weekly or successive iron supplementation on erythropoietin doses in patients receiving hemodialysis.
Kato A, Hamada M, Suzuki T, Maruyama T, Maruyama Y, Hishida A.
PMID: 11528242

ZINC

16. Treatment with zinc sulfate (oral dose 445 mg/day for 2 months) relieved pruritus (itching) in patients on hemodialysis, which was found to be associated with zinc deficiency.

Hinyokika Kiyo. 1987 Dec;33(12):1955-60. 
[Beneficial effect of zinc supplementation on pruritus in hemodialysis patients with special reference to changes in serum histamine levels]
[Article in Japanese]
Sanada S, Kuze M, Yoshida O.
PMID: 3448919

17. Treatment with elemental zinc (oral dose 445 mg/day for 2 months) improved hypogeusia (diminished taste sensitivity) in hemodialysis patients.

Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 Jul;33(7):1517-21. 
Improvement of uremic hypogeusia by zinc: a double-blind study.
Mahajan SK, Prasad AS, Lambujon J, Abbasi AA, Briggs WA, McDonald FD.
PMID: 6772011

VITAMIN C/ASCORBIC ACID

18. A daily dose of vitamin C (200 mg/day) and vitamin E (600 mg/day) for 6 months reduced oxidative stress and improved microcirculation in hemodialysis patients.

Clin Nephrol. 2003 Jul;60(1):28-34.
Effects of vitamin supplementation on microcirculatory disturbance in hemodialysis patients without peripheral arterial disease.
Sato M, Matsumoto Y, Morita H, Takemura H, Shimoi K, Amano I.

19. Compared to placebo, daily doses of vitamin C (200 mg), vitamin E (200 mg), and vitamin D3 (50,000 IU) for 3 months corrected lipid abnormalities in hemodialysis patients without side effects. Vitamin C reduced LDL and total cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratios. Vitamin D reduced triglyceride levels and the triglyceride/HDL ratio. Vitamin E decreased the LDL/HDL ratio.

Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2000 Feb;34(1):62-6. 
Effect of vitamins on the lipid profile of patients on regular hemodialysis.
Khajehdehi P.
PMID: 10757273