【Abstract】 Objective To compare the effects of low calcium dialysate (LCD) with standard calcium dialysate (SCD) in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Methods Fifty-seven CAPD patients randomly received LCD or SCD for a period of 6 months. Serum calcium was evaluated before and after the treatment for 6 months. Serum phosphate, magnesium and parathyroid hormorne (PTH) were also measured. Uncomfortable events, if any, were recorded. Results Fifty-three patients completed the study. After the treatment for 6 months, serum calcium, phosphate, magnesium and calcium-phosphate product showed no change in the patients receiving SCD (P＞0.05), but decrease significantly in the patients treated with LCD (P＜0.05). Serum PTH increased significantly in patients with LCD as compared with that in patients with SCD (P＜0.05). In patients treated with LCD, skin itch improved, and no hypotension and spasms due to hypocalcemia happened. Conclusions LCD satisfactorily controlled serum calcium, decreased serum phosphate, and alleviated the inhibition of parathyroid. Thus LCD for CAPD may be useful in the prevention of adynamic bone diseases.