Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Relation to the Phosphorus Content of Meals

Patients on hemodialysis tend to have chronic elevations in the level of phosphorus in the blood and a secondary increase in the iPTH level. This chronic elevation in iPTH can have adverse consequences, thus a variety of phosphate binders are given in an attempt to decrease the absorption of phosphorus present in the normal diet. Some preliminary studies have indicated that the iPTH level may change based on the amount of phosphorus present in a meal prior to any significant absorption of phosphorus. If this is true in hemodialysis patients, then the timing of the administration of phosphate binders in relation to the ingestion of meals needs to be considered