Summary:To gain an insight in the regulation of (24jR)-hydroxycalcidiol, we studied the pharmacokinetics of orally administered (24R)-hydroxycalcidiol in 6 healthy subjects without calcium supplementation, in 4 healthy subjects with calcium supplementation and in 6 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Various quantities related to calcium and vitamin D metabolism were also monitored.In the healthy subjects without calcium supplementation, the basal (24/?)-hydroxycalcidiol concentration (C b ) in serum was 2.4 ± 0.8 nmol/1 (mean ± SD, n = 5), the terminal serum half-time (t I/2 ) 7.2 ±1.4 days, the production rate 0.05 ± 0.01 nmol/kg · day, and the production rate/[calcidiol] ratio (1.5 ± 0.4 χ 10~3 I/kg • day). In the healthy subjects studied, the serum concentration vs time curves exhibited a second maximum after administration, possibly due to binding by intestinal cells or (partial) uptake by the lymph system. In the calcium-supplemented healthy subjects, the pharmacokinetic quantities were not significantly different while the area under the serum concentration-time curve and the estimated bioavailability were significantly decreased.Basal concentration (C b ), production rate and the production rate/[calcidiol] ratio were significantly lower in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism but ti/ 2 was unchanged.Exogenous (24jR)-hydroxycalcidiol had no clear effect on calcium and vitamin D metabolism.In conclusion, a) exogenous (24JR)-hydroxycalcidiol has no clear effect on calcium and vitamin D metabolism, b) clearance and production rate of (24/?)-hydroxycalcidiol are not affected by calcium supplementation, c) bioavailability is lower in the calcium-supplemented state, d) basal concentration (C b ) and production rate are significantly decreased in patients with hyperparathyroidism.