Regulation of calcium metabolism.

This paper reviews the regulation of calcium metabolism in man. The body's calcium economy is determined by the relationship between the intestinal absorption of calcium, the renal handling of calcium, and by the movements of calcium in and out of the skeleton. These processes are influenced by many factors, the most important of which are parathyroid hormone and the hormones derived from the renal metabolism of vitamin D, notably 1,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The role of endogenous calcitonin in man is still controversial, but there are several other hormones which have some influence on calcium metabolism, including thyroid hormone, growth hormone, and the adrenal and gonadal steroids. Clinical disorders of calcium metabolism and their treatment are discussed in terms of the disturbances in normal physiology they represent.