The changes of the calcitonin reserve function in patients with primary osteoporosis

Abstract

In order to study the role of calcitonin (CT) in osteoporosis, the calcium loading calcitonin stimulated test (calcium element 3 mg/kg body weight, i.v., 10 min) was used to investigate calcitonin reserve function in 21 women with osteoporosis. The sesults were compared with those in 48 healthy women and 7 women with osteopenia. After calcium infusion, there was no significant difference in the basal CT, the peak CT value, the CT increase range, and the area under the curve (AUC) between pre- and post-menopausal healthy women. In patients with primary osteoporosis, the four parameters were significantly lower than those in normal controls, and the CT peak value and increase range were lower than those in patients with osteopenia. In the osteopenia group, the basal CT value and its AUC were lower than those in the age-matched control group, but no difference was found in the peak CT value and the increase range between the two groups. The results showed no evident effect of menopause on calcitonin reserve function, but suggested a possible relationship between the decrease of CT reserve function and osteoporosis in patients with osteoporosis. Calcitonin deficiency has something to do with the development of osteoporosis.