Physiology of Parathyroid Hormone

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;47(4):743-758. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Abstract

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the major secretory product of the parathyroid glands, and in hypocalcemic conditions, can enhance renal calcium reabsorption, increase active vitamin D production to increase intestinal calcium absorption, and mobilize calcium from bone by increasing turnover, mainly but not exclusively in cortical bone. PTH has therefore found clinical use as replacement therapy in hypoparathyroidism. PTH also may have a physiologic role in augmenting bone formation, particularly in trabecular and to some extent in cortical bone. This action has been applied to the clinic to provide anabolic therapy for osteoporosis.

Keywords: Anabolic actions; Bone turnover; Calcium; Catabolic actions; Parathyroid hormone; Phosphate.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Bone and Bones / physiology
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / physiology
  • Parathyroid Glands / physiology*
  • Parathyroid Hormone / physiology*
  • Phosphates / metabolism

Substances

  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Phosphates
  • Calcium