Serum vitamin D metabolites and PTH were measured in seven subjects with a history of previous partial gastrectomy (PGX) and metabolic bone disease. The elimination t1/2 of [3H]25-hydroxyvitamin D3 ([3H]25OHD3) in serum was assessed after an iv pulse dose of 5 microCi [26,27-3H]25OHD3. Median serum 25OHD3 was 37.5 (27.5-101.3) nmol/L, [normal range (NR) 10.8-58.5 nmol/L], mean serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1, 25-(OH)2D3] was raised at 175 +/- 72 pmol/L, (NR 48-120 pmol/L) and mean PTH was also high, 67 +/- 27 ng/L, (NR 10-60 ng/L). Serum t1/2 [3H]25OHD3 ranged from 10.9-21.2 days. A strong negative correlation existed between t1/2 [3H]25OHD3 and serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r = -0.82, P = 0.002)] and PTH [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r = -0.81, P = 0.001)]. Four subjects who had high initial PTH concentrations (60-115 ng/L) and elevated 1,25-(OH)2D levels (162-300 pmol/L) were reassessed after calcium supplementation to suppress secondary hyperparathyroidism (2 degrees HPT). In this subgroup, after-treatment PTH fell from 82 +/- 24 to 52 +/- 24 ng/L (mean +/- SD), not significant; 1,25-(OH)2D fell from 210 +/- 61 to 116 +/- 28 pmol/L, P = 0.015; and t1/2 [3H]25OHD3 increased from 13.2 +/- 1.9 to 18.9 +/- 3.1 days, P = 0.012. Patients with PGX and evidence of 2 degrees HPT with elevated 1,25-(OH)2D have a reduced t1/2 [3H]25OHD3, and this may explain the increased susceptibility of the subjects to osteomalacia. Calcium supplementation suppresses 2 degrees HPT, increases t1/2 [3H]25OHD3 and may protect against PGX osteoporosis and osteomalacia.