The missing link between hyper parathyroid and ... - Thyroid UK

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The missing link between hyper parathyroid and other diseases.

18 Replies

Does hyper para thyroid show a link between other diseases such as hardening of the arteries and calcification of other organs such as the kidneys?

Is plaque build up on teeth another sign of hyper para thyroid affecting dental health?

Can anyone recommend research. As my dentist says I have too much calcium in my blood which is causing dental plaque build up, and there is a family history of hardening of the arteries, is there information to confirm this?

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18 Replies
bantam12 profile image
bantam12

I have never heard of hypercalcemia causing plaque build up on teeth, it can lead to heart, kidney and other issues. If you are worried get your calcium level tested.

Hidden I have horrible dental plaque build up despite twice daily brushing (more often when I was working and seeing people). Even immediately after brushing my teeth with a rotating electric toothbrush there's no apparent reduction - despite what the Oral-B advert says! A few years ago I had a suspicion that it was caused by decades of hypothyroidism and being on mono-T4 therapy, and therefore years of being without calcitonin. I researched and researched online and eventually found a paper that backed up my suspicions, but stupidly I don't seem to have the document and my dentist looked blank when I mentioned it to her. Not surprisingly as most people seem to wrongly discount the thyroid's "other" hormones T1, T2 & calcitonin as doing nothing, or certainly as unimportant. The thing about calcitonin is that it reduces calcium levels in the blood by two main mechanisms:

1. Inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts, which are the cells responsible for breaking down bone. When bone is broken down, the calcium contained in the bone is released into the bloodstream. Therefore, the inhibition of the osteoclasts by calcitonin directly reduces the amount of calcium released into the blood. However, this inhibition has been shown to be short-lived.

2. Decreasing the resorption of calcium in the kidneys, again leading to lower blood calcium levels.

The secretion of both calcitonin and parathyroid hormone is determined by the level of calcium in the blood. When levels of calcium in the blood increase, calcitonin is secreted in higher quantities. When levels of calcium in the blood decrease, this causes the amount of calcitonin secreted to decrease too. The secretion of calcitonin is also inhibited by the hormone somatostatin which is also released by the C-cells in the thyroid gland.

So I can't give you any concrete answer but I'm definitely sharing your concern.

in reply to

This is very scientific information . As too much calcium can affect other organs in the body, it is difficult to know whether it may be a dietary factor from eating too much calcium in milk and cheese and yoghurt. My dentist says it is in the mucous in my mouth, which is creating the plaque on the teeth. As my mum had the same problem with her teeth and died from an atheroma and my granddad had hardening of the arteries and died from heart disease think may be too much dairy might be responsible for the plaque. I was disappointed my dentist kept telling me to brush my teeth - I had bad bleeding gums after dental work and could not touch my gums as they were so sore. He had done an ultrasound clean up twice within ten days - so he was pointing to me for not brushing my teeth enough. As the calcium is in the mucous it is not all together my fault that this stuff builds up! I have had an ultrasound scan about six years ago, with a goitre and was offered node biopsies which I declined. Thyroid problems run in the family some having slow and others hyperactive. Think I should cut down on dairy before having a calcium test as may be it is causing the excess mucous.

I wonder how many other people who are vegan and eat more cheese have the same problems. Thanks NoMore T3

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to

BTW. Vegans don't eat cheese! Make sure you are taking vit K2 (mk-7 or combined mk-4 and mk-7) to direct calcium ot where it should be. Don't know if it affects plaque on teeth, but there are few studies that have shown it reducing arterial calcium.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply toAngel_of_the_North

My brother is a vegan and eats vegan cheese, he orders it from a vegan site-its not normal cheese though.😊

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply toRmichelle

Not cheese - cheese substitute. Personally, I just eat food as it comes, ie not messed around with or turned into something else, so no fake meat etc - esp as most of it is made from soya and/or modifed starch.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Lol.yes fake cheese, looks different in texture as well, im with you there im celiac and dont touch soya aswell. Yuk stuff.x

in reply toAngel_of_the_North

My spelling abbreviation for "vegetarians" apologies. Thank you Angel of the North -the info on vitamin k2 is helpful. Know it is found in certain vegetables but it is expensive as a supplement. Perhaps you could recommend one from the uk.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to

I get K2 from Epigenetics epigenetics-international.com but there are loads of sellers. Really shouldn't supplement D or calcium without it. It is only in animal products (apart from natto and sauerkraut) as far as I know (k1 is in vegetables and is different): see chriskresser.com/vitamin-k2...

in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Am using d3 at the moment and eating veg high in vitamin k which converts to k2 in the liver. Thanks

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to

I wouldn't be sure that you are converting sufficient K1 to K2. From that article: "Another common misconception is that human beings do not need vitamin K2 in their diet, since they have the capacity to convert vitamin K1 to vitamin K2. The amount of vitamin K1 in typical diets is ten times greater than that of vitamin K2, and researchers and physicians have largely dismissed the contribution of K2 to nutritional status as insignificant.

However, although animals can convert vitamin K1 to vitamin K2, a significant amount of evidence suggests that humans require preformed K2 in the diet to obtain and maintain optimal health."

in reply toAngel_of_the_North

That has turned wiki upside down. I am aware that vitamin k2 deficiency can cause cysts and bone malformation, but I have read it should be taken with d3. Does this information match yours? Thank you. GGG

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to

I take it at the opposite end of the day (with dinner) from vit D (am), vitamindprotocol.com/the-vi... but many people say to take it at the same time.

A good resource is chrismasterjohnphd.com/2016... but it is long

in reply to

Have looked up calcitonin on wiki and found reference to calcitonin in bi polar disorder linked to thyroid. It has some mechanism increasing serotonin in the blood. Not much research has been done yet - but am sure many mental health problems might be affected by calcitonin. This can happen in women during lactation post natal with or without a genetic link. Do you have any information on this from research?

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to

Which wiki? And is the author an expert? I thought most serotonin was made in the gut.

in reply to

Thank you anonymous - I have cut down my cheese over the past couple of weeks, and think the plaque is not as bad. Have also found calcitonin is in salmon in the bones. I have tried tin salmon crushing the vertebrae in the tin with the back of a spoon on a plate. I then mix this into fish cake which I fry in sunflower oil.

Like you I found a buil up of plaque which would not be removed by electric toothbrush - now changed to a soft tooth brush for kids so I can brush round the gums and between the teeth without hard bristles. I don't use fluoride toothpaste

as research shows that if a bit of toothpaste is swallowed by a child it is so strong it can be fatal! It is ubelievable that these toxins are there for kids who like to taste the tooth paste and think it is a sweet!

in reply to

Since reading your post, I have cut down on dairy having allergies to eggs, wheat, rice corn flour lactase in milk and carbs. Recent research shows that plaque in the body, may be related to eating too much starch in the form of amyloids. These amyloids as you know are produced from a diet of too many starches - and can be helped by omega 3 fish oil supplements and certain herbs especially sunset hibiscus . The amyloids can affect the blood leading to cancer and dementia. Have found an improvement of plaque by cutting out these starch foods even oat meal, which converts to glycogen in the body in the liver. Cutting down on dairy has stopped the mucus and helped sinus. The plaque on my teeth has improved and I bought a new toothbrush ionic for £8. I now take calcitonin in crushed vertebrae in can salmon, which is said to control hypercalcaemia. I use the back of a spoon to crush the small can salmon bones on a plate. They are soft and I make fish cakes with the fish. Would welcome any feed back as plaque on the teeth is said to be from too much calcium - but the amyloids also produce plaque so diet is important. I cut out lactase in milk by going lactase free, and don't have ordinary milk in the diet, as I am diabetic. But this may not cut down the calcium. As I have had IBS, I discovered the importance of vitamin d3, for the digestion and for bone, and colon function. Any other info you have found about diet would be helpful. Thanks G

Think the serotonin is increased in the raphe nuclei in the brain - this circulates as a neurotransmitter for motor, spinal cord and brain function but you are right- it is created in the gut. D3 is sold in droplets for babies by chemists with no mention of vitamin k.

I can't comment on your information but there is no indication that taking d3 on its own is harmful.

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