INFLUENCE OF LOW DOSE OF STEROID THERAPY ON CALCIUM ABSORPTION

Abstract

ABSTRACT The influence of longterm treatment with 15 mg of prednisolone on calcium absorption was investigated by means of an oral absorption test. Plasma-radioactivity was measured one, two and three hours after the oral dose. Sixteen patients were studied before and while on medication during three weeks, eleven of them being re-investigated after five months of treatment. This dose of steroids produced no effect on calcium absorption; two and three hours after the oral dose the plasma-radioactivity is even higher (P < 0.05) while on prednisolone. In six patients the one hour calcium pool size and turnover rate were also measured after iv 45Ca. The pool size and turnover rate were not changed during the treatment.