Effect of vitamin D3 on the conversion of ethylene glycol to glycolate and oxalate in ethylene glycol-fed rats

Hypercalciuria and hyperoxaluria are important risk factors in the pathogenesis of kidney stones. Urinary glycolate has also been reported to be elevated in patients with renal stones. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3), the active metabolite of vitamin D, has been reported to induce hyperoxaluria after either oral or intravenous administration. 1-alpha-D(3), a synthetic derivative of vitamin D, together with ethylene glycol, has been reported to induce renal stones in experimental rats. We have examined the effect of 1-alpha-vitamin D(3) on urinary oxalate and glycolate excretion. Our results indicate that 1-alpha-D(3), together with ethylene glycol, caused a significant increase in urinary glycolate, without a parallel rise in urinary oxalate excretion, in ethylene glycol-fed rats. This increase in urinary glycolate was due to the synergistic effect of both drugs.