In adults, it is rare for blood calcium levels to get too high. However, in infants and young children whose bodies, and thus bones, are not as large, the hormone calcitonin helps to prevent blood calcium levels from getting too high¹.

Response to High Blood Calcium

High blood calcium levels are sensed by the thyroid, which releases calcitonin. This response is designed to maintain/achieve normal blood calcium levels, but also affects phosphate (phosphorus) levels. Calcitonin has 3 effects^1,2:

1. Decreases bone resorption, increases bone deposition

2. Increases calcium and phosphorus excretion in urine

3. Decreases 1,25(OH)2D activation in the kidney

The first effect of calcitonin is to inhibit bone resorption, thus promoting the deposition of calcium and phosphorus into bone as hydroxyapatite.

Figure 12.141 Calcitonin effect 1: increased bone deposition³

The second effect of calcitonin is to increase calcium and phosphorus excretion in urine.

Figure 12.142 Calcitonin effect 2: increased calcium and phosphorus excretion

The third effect of calcitonin is to decrease 1alpha-hydroxylase levels, which decreases the activation of 1,25(OH)2D. As a result, the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine is decreased, as shown below.

Figure 12.143 Calcitonin effect 3: decreased 1,25(OH)2D activation

Overall, calcitonin inhibits the 3 actions that PTH uses to increase blood calcium levels. Thus, more calcium and phosphate are deposited into bones and excreted into urine, as shown below. This causes blood calcium levels to decrease.

12.144 Response to high blood calcium

References & Links

1. Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL. (2008) Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

2. Whitney E, Rolfes SR. (2011) Understanding nutrition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Illu_thyroid_parathyroid.jpg