Disorders Affecting Calcium Metabolism

Calcium plays an important role in several body functions, including muscle contractions, enzyme function, and nerve conduction. Calcium is stored in the bones. Calcium levels in the blood are regulated by two hormones produced by the four parathyroid glands, glands located adjacent to the thyroid gland in the neck. These hormones include the following:

• parathyroid hormone
  Parathyroid hormone levels rise when calcium levels fall, and vice versa. These hormones also stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to absorb calcium and the bones to release calcium.
  
  
• calcitonin
  Calcitonin, which is produced by the parathyroid glands, the thyroid, and thymus glands, is responsible for lowering calcium levels by moving calcium into the bones for storage.  

Disorders affecting calcium metabolism require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some of the disorders that affect calcium metabolism, for which we have provided a brief overview.
 
If you cannot find the information in which you are interested, please visit the Diabetes & Other Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Online Resources page in this Web site for an Internet/World Wide Web address that may contain additional information on that topic
 
Juvenile Osteoporosis
 
Hyperparathyroidism
 
Hypoparathyroidism
 
DiGeorge Syndrome

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