Which medication is used to improve calcium absorption in dialysis patients?

Which medication is used to improve calcium absorption in dialysis patients?

• A. Caltrate
• B. Zemplar
• C. PhosLo
• D. Renagel

Answer: (B)

Calcium absorption in dialysis patients is helped by activating vitamin D in the gut. Zemplar is paricalcitol, a vitamin D receptor agonist used in CKD patients on dialysis to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism. By activating the vitamin D receptor, it increases the gut's ability to absorb calcium, aiding in maintaining calcium levels and helping to suppress excess parathyroid hormone. This makes it the best choice for improving calcium absorption among the options. Caltrate provides calcium directly as a supplement, which increases calcium intake but doesn’t enhance the gut’s absorption mechanism. PhosLo and Renagel are phosphate binders used to control phosphate in the gut; they don’t primarily act to boost calcium absorption.

Calcium absorption in dialysis patients is helped by activating vitamin D in the gut. Zemplar is paricalcitol, a vitamin D receptor agonist used in CKD patients on dialysis to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism. By activating the vitamin D receptor, it increases the gut's ability to absorb calcium, aiding in maintaining calcium levels and helping to suppress excess parathyroid hormone. This makes it the best choice for improving calcium absorption among the options.

Caltrate provides calcium directly as a supplement, which increases calcium intake but doesn’t enhance the gut’s absorption mechanism. PhosLo and Renagel are phosphate binders used to control phosphate in the gut; they don’t primarily act to boost calcium absorption.