Metabolic acidosis in the vitamin D-deficient chick

• Published in: Metabolism, clinical and experimental Vol. 26; no. 10; p. 1099
• Main Authors: Booth, B E, Tsai, H C, Morris, Jr, R C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1977
• Subjects: Acidosis - etiology; Animals; Chickens; Chlorides - blood; Chlorides - metabolism; Hypocalcemia - drug therapy; Hypocalcemia - etiology; Vitamin D - therapeutic use; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0026-0495
• DOI: 10.1016/0026-0495(77)90036-1

In vitamin D-deficient chicks raised from age 1 day on a vitamin D-deficient diet, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis accurred at 3 wk and persisted. Within 24 hr of administration of vitamin D, the acidosis and hypocalcemia were attentuated; during the subsequent 72 hr the severity of the metabolic acidosis but not that of the hypocalcemia was further attenuated. That further attenuation occurred despite hypocalcemia of unchanging severity and presumed continuing secondary hyperparathyroidism suggests the possibility that vitamin D deficiency may be a requirement for the expression of metabolic acidosis. Since in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that subphysiologic values of media and blood pH, respectively, are attended by reduced production of 1,25-(OH2D3, the most biologically active vitamin D metabolite known, the occurrence of acidosis in vitamin D deficiency may compound its metabolic consequences. The possible effects of acidosis must be considered in interpreting results of investigations of vitamin D metabolism in vitamin-D-deficient chicks.