Diphosphonates Inhibit Formation of Calcium Phosphate Crystals in vitro and Pathological Calcification in vivo

Abstract
Two diphosphonates containing the P-C-P bond, CH 3 C(OH)(PO 3 HNa) 2 and H 2 C(PO 3 HNa) 2 , inhibit the crystallization of calcium phosphate in vitro and prevent aortic calcification of rats given large amounts of vitamin D 3 . The diphosphonates therefore have effects similar to those described for compounds containing the P-O-P bond but are active when administered orally.