Calcitriol
Calcitriol basically performs two functions in the body and both involve the regulation of calcium availability in the body. The first action is on the intestinal cells and this promotes adequate calcium absorption from food. The second action is on the bones and this serves to release calcium into the blood when required. Deficiency of calcitriol results in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Calcitriol is derived from Vitamin D3 which is synthesized in the skin on exposure to the sun and also from dietary Vitamin D intake.
In conclusion, an overview of endocrine hormones secreted by the kidneys reveals what significant contribution the kidney makes to the endocrine system and the human body in general.