Calcium levels, hypo and hyperthyroidism - implications for bone health

[diogenes]

I came across this paper which might be of interest re hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and effects on calcium levels.

International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

ISSN (Online): 2581-3277

Dr. Amit Kumar and Vibhav Nigam,

A study of calcium level in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences (IRJPMS)

Volume 2, Issue 1, pp. 74-76, 2019.

Dr. Amit Kumar , Vibhav Nigam

Senior Resident, Department of Biochemistry, Dr. RML Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

Abstract

Objective:

To compare calcium level in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Methods:

This was a comparative study. Patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism of all the age groups and irrespective of gender were included in the study. About 2ml of venous blood was drawn in a plain bulb for serum calcium analysis. Serum was separated by centrifugation and was kept at 4-8 degrees C till the estimation of calcium level. Serum calcium was estimated on semiautoanalyzer (Erba Chem-5 plus v2) by using commercially available kits.

Results:

The mean age of subjects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was 39.70±13.65 and 40.20±13.32 years respectively. Calcium level was significantly (p=0.005) higher in the patients of Hyperthyroidism (9.63±0.69) compared to hypothyroidism (8.95±1.06). Decreased level of calcium was in 33.3% patients in hypothyroidism compared to hyperthyroidism (23.3%). However, increased calcium level was in 6.7% patients of hypothyroidism compared to hyperthyroidism (10%)

Conclusion:

The serum calcium level is significantly altered in thyroid disorders. Therefore, it is important to check the levels of this mineral in all the thyroid disorders. Treatment of the primary cause should be done. If necessary, the supplementation of mineral should be given in order to prevent further bone complications.

Not by any means a great paper, but the implications of hypothyroidism or under treatment on calcium levels and thus bone complications is clear. Looks as if patients can differ in the calcium response in whichever situation.

[dolphin5]

That’s interesting! My calcium level hasn’t been tested since discharge from hospital after they removed my thyroid gland. That was about 17 years ago, and I had 14 years under-medicated before starting T3.

[LindaC in reply to dolphin5]

Simple testing of several hormones, vits/mins, could not only save the NHS in totality so much £ but also lessen so much unnecessary distress for patients.

Time for them to 'move forward'.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Link about low FT3 being implicated in osteoporosis.....,and how often do we see hypothyroid patients with high FT4 and still having low FT3

tiredthyroid.com/blog/2012/...

There needs to be large research project looking at bone denistity of patients on Levothyroxine mono therapy verses Levo plus T3 and NDT patients

There have been a few posts on here over the years saying bone density results improved once T3 treatment was started

[LAHs]

That goes against the medical profession's common mantra. We are told that if our TSH is too low, i.e. looking like hyperthyroidism, then we will get osteoporosis. And yet this paper says that we lose more calcium if we are hypothyroidic. So, getting alarmed at a low TSH and medicating us, at least those who obey the docs, to raise our TSH is actually inviting osteoporosis because it is pushing us towards hypothyroidism.

I didn't quite understand the last sentence of "results", it seems to say the opposite - but that is probably me just being thick.

[humanbean in reply to LAHs]

I didn't quite understand the last sentence of "results", it seems to say the opposite - but that is probably me just being thick.

I didn't understand the results section either.

The only thing (I think) I could work out was that people who are hypothyroid can have either a high level or a low level of calcium.

My calcium level is always close to the top of the range. I wonder where the calcium is coming from, and I assume it is being leached out of my bones. I have a family history of osteoporosis, so I'm fully expecting to get it - if I haven't already got it.

[LAHs in reply to humanbean]

Yes, that is the question isn't it, where is the calcium coming from? If the study measured Ca in the blood they cannot say that high calcium is "good" if it is being leached out of the bones. That is high Ca but osteoporosis. On the other hand if there is very little Ca in the blood that looks "bad", but maybe it is just because the bones are just not giving it up. Lots of research to be done here.

[Furface in reply to LAHs]

Reading through this although it says 'supplementing with mineral should be given' - (singular), bones are not made of just calcium, they are made are many other minerals also. There have been many books written by people who have really studied bones and almost all of them say that without testing all the minerals in a person, that just taking calcium can throw out all the others, therefore causing problems. This study concerns me as they have taken calcium in isolation.

[humanbean in reply to Furface]

I agree - the medical profession is fixated on calcium in terms of bone health, even though increasing calcium levels and ignoring everything else just gives people very brittle bones.

Last night I came across a treatment for osteoporosis called Prolia. I'd never heard of it before. Apparently sufferers are injected with it every six months. If they stop receiving this injection they have a rebound effect of having a vastly increased risk of developing spontaneous spinal fractures. So it is a treatment that realistically has to be for life. But this drug also has lots and lots of other side effects that cause lots of pain. So once you've had this injection you are doomed to have to repeat it every few months and to suffer all the pain for the rest of your life. How any doctor can prescribe that for people with a clear conscience I have no idea.

My late mother had several spinal fractures that caused her immense pain for the last ten years of her life. I wish I knew if she was ever injected with Prolia.

I do know that she was supplementing with calcium and a miniscule dose of vitamin D, amongst other treatments. But magnesium, vitamin K2, boron and other essential things for bones never got a mention.

[Furface in reply to humanbean]

Theres seemingly a lot of misinformation within the training of medical schools, no wonder we are such a sick nation. I have found that most Drs don't know anything about vitamins and minerals and just tell you to go to Boots and get calcium for your bones and 400iu - 800iu Vit D if you are a bit low, everyone is low in vit D, its normal! The last one i mentioned Magnesium to as being helpful for pain just said 'Never heard of that!' and recommended Pregablin to me. Magnesium salts and oil have really helped me and the best thing is there are no nasty side effects, eh? never heard of Prolia, one to avoid I think! I dont trust injections full stop. I think it can be risky to supplement calcium without first knowing if you need it. Am sure i read somewhere recently that not many people are deficient in calcium but most are deficient in magnesium.

[TSH110 in reply to Furface]

I was pleasantly surprised that my GP immediately suggested magnesium for my long standing bouts of cramp. I think she may be German (she has an accent) so perhaps trained there rather than here. She may be more open minded about NDT but I have never discussed It with her.

[Furface in reply to TSH110]

Id hold on tight to that Dr if I were you, one of the good ones! Magnesium oil is brilliant for cramp and preventing it. Don't get cramp anymore since using it, such a relief!

[TSH110 in reply to Furface]

If mine gets really bad I take quinine it quells it very rapidly. I think magnesium is probably a better option ought to put it next to the bed for rapid access 😂🤣😂 I rarely get it except in bed at night.

[Furface in reply to TSH110]

Also I found putting the oil into a rollerball dispenser is helpful, these are available on eBay very cheaply. Magnesium is my go to now for any pain. The oil has an advantage as all of it is absorbed rather than just a proportion of it through the gut with capsules.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Furface]

A few links about benefit of magnesium

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

[TSH110 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the links first did not work for me but second was very interesting reading

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TSH110]

Try this ...

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

[TSH110 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thats better! Ta 🥇🦴

[LAHs in reply to Furface]

Good point.