Calcium regulation in the body is a complex process that is regulated by several hormones such as parathyroid hormone, calcitriol, calcitonin, and sex hormones. Besides these main hormones, some hormones such as growth hormone, thyroid hormone, cortisol, and insulin affect the bone health of the body. Any imbalances in any of these hormones can impact calcium regulation in the body. That’s why if you have signs of hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia you should visit your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Learn about the role of the endocrine system in calcium regulation in our body in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

 

 

Exploring the Role of the endocrine system in calcium regulation

 

  1. Sex hormones:

Besides the 3 main calcium-regulating hormones in the body, sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone also play an important role in regulating skeletal growth and maintaining bone mass and strength. In both men and women, sex hormones affect bone health from increased bone formation to a growth spurt during puberty. Your cartilage plates at the ends of long bones allow these bones to increase in length, leading to dramatic changes in height during puberty. In late adolescence, the high concentration of sex hormones leads to a closure of the epiphyseal growth plates and replacement of cartilage with bone at different locations which prevents any further growth in height post-puberty.

 

Estrogen: Similar to calcium-regulating hormones affecting the skeleton, estrogen stimulates the formation of new bones. This affects osteoclasts to inhibit the breakdown of bones in different stages of life. In menopausal women, as their level of estrogen drops, it becomes the reason for rapid bone mass loss in them. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with exogenous estrogen is given to menopausal women to prevent their age-related bone loss. However, the use of HRT is controversial because this therapy is also linked to an elevated risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and blood clot formation.

 

Testosterone: Testosterone plays an essential role in skeletal growth by directly affecting the bone. It stimulates the growth of muscles, which puts stress on the bones and stimulates bone formation. Fat cells convert testosterone to estrogen, this means testosterone serves as a source of estrogen in the body to affect bone health in men and women. The level of circulating estrogen hormone is higher in older men than in older women.

 

Besides these hormones, other hormones also involved in Bone health are:

  • Growth hormone:

Growth hormones also play a significant role in the regulation of skeletal growth. This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and stimulates the liver to produce enormous amounts of insulin-like growth factor or IGF-1 and release it into the circulation. Growth hormones also directly affect the bones as well as the liver and IGF-1 hormone.

The skeletal growth during puberty is also boosted by the growth hormone. In older individuals, the production of growth hormone and IGF-1 decreases with age, which also lowers their ability to replace resorbed bone or form new bone rapidly. Although growth hormone and IGF-1 stimulate both bone formation and resorption, its primary work is on bone-forming cells with a resultant increase in bone mass.

 

  • Thyroid hormones:

Thyroid hormones also affect bones by increasing the energy of all the cells in the body including the bone cells. This increased energy production also increases bone formation along with bone resorption. If someone has a deficiency of thyroid hormones during childhood, it leads to impaired growth. Abnormally elevated levels of thyroid hormones in the blood can lead to excessive breakdown of bone and a weak skeleton. Additionally, thyroid-stimulating hormones or thyrotropin, a pituitary hormone can regulate the production of thyroid hormones which may directly affect bones.

 

  • Cortisol:

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is important for the regulation of metabolism in the body. It helps the body’s ability to cope with injury and stress. The effects of cortisol on the skeleton are complex because sometimes tiny amounts of cortisol are required for bones to develop normally, while large amounts can block the growth of bones. That’s why this hormone affects bones and calcium-regulating hormones in humans.

To treat arthritis and asthma, glucocorticoids (synthetic cortisol) are used. However, prolonged use of these drugs can lead to bone loss due to increased bone breakdown and decreased bone formation. Therefore, prolonged treatment with high doses of glucocorticoids can put you at an elevated risk of fractures.

 

  • Insulin:

Insulin also plays an essential role in the growth of bones. In people with insulin deficiency, it impairs their response to other bone growth-stimulating factors.

 

Leptin, a recently discovered hormone produced by fat cells can regulate energy balance, which affects the skeleton.

 

Need help with hormonal imbalances that affect your bone health, visit our endocrinology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Want to learn what symptoms occur when you have calcium disorders? Call us on +13473845690 and get answers for all your queries. Log on to  www.doralhw.org or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment with our endocrinologist to get the best treatment. We have the best endocrinologists who treat these kinds of diseases and helpful staff to aid you during your treatment.