Abstract
The effects of oral administration of calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide gel, dihydrotachysterol (DHT) and sodium bicarbonate on metabolic acidosis and plasma calcium and phosphate were studied in 7 patients with chronic renal failure. Single administration of calcium carbonate alleviated the acidosis and increased the urinary bicarbonate excretion. These effects were potentiated when aluminum hydroxide gel was administered in combination with calcium carbonate. The plasma calcium was increased by this combination therapy. The effects of these two agents on acidosis and plasma calcium were further enhanced by the additional administration of DHT. Urinary bicarbonate excretion was less during the treatment with aluminum hydroxide gel and calcium carbonate than with aluminum hydroxide gel and sodium bicarbonate, when the excretions were compared at the similar concentrations of plasma bicarbonate. Aluminum hydroxide gel and DHT are likely to enhance the effect of calcium carbonate, which works as an alkalinizing salt on acidosis, probably through increasing calcium absorption in the intestine. And the three agents suppress the leak of bicarbonate into the urine contributing to the improvement of acidosis.
