Alfacalcidol (AC)

Alfacalcidolis an analogue of vitamin D used for supplementation in humans and as a poultry feed additive. Alfacalcidol has a weaker impact on calcium metabolism and parathyroid hormone levels than calcitriol, however alfacalcidiol has significant effects on the immune system, including regulatory T cells. It is considered to be a more useful form of vitamin D supplementation, mostly due to much longer half-life and lower kidney load. Used as a poultry feed additive, it prevents tibial dyschondroplasia and increases phytate bioavailability.

In Denmark, alfacalcidol and paricalcitol are the most frequently used vitamin D analogs. The present thesis describes the first comparative study of alfacalcidol and paricalcitol and their ability to control the disturbances in the mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patient