NIACIN AMELIORATES HYPERCALCIURIA AND HYPERPHOSPHATURIA DUE TO GLUCOCORTICOID ADMINISTRATION IN RATS

Abstract

Hypercalciuria and hyperphosphaturia are present in long term and high dose regimens of glucocorticoid therapy. This study aims to evaluate the effect of niacin at its pharmacological dose on calcium and phosphate disturbances due to methylprednisolone administration in growing rats. Twenty one rats were randomly divided into three equal groups and treated as follows for 4 weeks: 1-Normal saline (Control); 2-Methyl Prednisolone (MP) acetate, 3.5 mg kg-1 five days a week, SC and 3- MP acetate, 3.5 mg kg-1 five days a week, SC + niacin 200 mg kg-1 daily by oral gavages. At the end of the experiment, serum and urinary calcium and phosphate assays were performed and calcium content of forth lumbar vertebrate and tibia-fibula bone was determined by atomic absorption method. No significant difference observed in serum calcium or phosphate levels among different groups (p>0.05), however an obvious hypercalciuria associated with hyperphosphaturia was present in MP group as compared to control (p