Abstract: Methods of treating vitamin D-sensitive diseases without inducing severe forms of hypercalcemia. The methods comprise administering biologically inert vitamin D prodrugs. The vitamin D prodrugs have a vitamin D-drug moiety and a pro moiety, wherein the pro moiety is selected from the group consisting of a glycone moiety and a sulfate moiety. The vitamin D prodrugs are activated by enzymes at target tissues or cells that cleave the pro moiety from the vitamin D drug moiety, freeing the vitamin D-moiety from the pro moiety in the vicinity of the target tissues or cells. The methods of the invention prevent large, acute, systemic increases in the free form of the vitamin D-drug moiety that would otherwise lead to hypercalcemia. The methods can be used to treat hyperproliferative, autoimmune, or infectious diseases throughout the body, including the intestine. Compositions of the vitamin D prodrugs useful in the described methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating vitamin D-sensitive diseases without inducing severe forms of hypercalcemia. The methods comprise administering biologically inert vitamin D prodrugs. The vitamin D prodrugs have a vitamin D-drug moiety and a pro moiety, wherein the pro moiety is selected from the group consisting of a glycone moiety and a sulfate moiety. The vitamin D prodrugs are activated by enzymes at target tissues or cells that cleave the pro moiety from the vitamin D-drug moiety, freeing the vitamin D-moiety from the pro moiety in the vicinity of the target tissues or cells. In some versions, the vitamin D-drug moiety is an active vitamin D drug that has direct therapeutic effects at target sites. In other versions, the vitamin D-drug moiety is an inactive vitamin D drug that regulates the production and/or turnover of an active vitamin D drug and, therefore, abundance of the active vitamin D drug at the target site.

Abstract: Calcium propionate treatments for milk fever (parturient paresis) have been formulated (1) with propylene glycol and either citric or phosphoric acid as a non-hardening paste and (2) with sodium chloride as a liquid drench. These compositions are particularly useful for treating this hypocalcemic disorder associated with the onset of lactation in dairy cows.