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The parathyroid glands and osteoporosis

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Abstract

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) may cause bone rarefaction by mobilization of Ca, but its role in osteoporosis has not been fully established. The majority of patients with osteoporosis have normal serum levels of PTH, but, histomorphometric evaluation of bone biopsies suggests the presence of hyperparathyroidism in senile osteoporosis. Postsurgical hypoparathyrodism, on the other hand, results in elevation of bone densitometry preventing the age-related loss of bone mass.

Previous animal studies and recent investigations from our laboratories of patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism suggest that parathyroid ablation prevents the expected bone loss caused by well known risk factors for osteoporosis such as immobilization, chronic treatment with glucocorticoids, renal failure, etc. It would appear as if PTH is required for the development of osteoporosis. Thus, reduction of PTH secretion by oral Ca supplementation or inhibition of the action of the hormone in bone by estrogens, could explain, at least in part, the beneficial effects of these agents in osteoporosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Memphis Metabolic Bone Center and Department of Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, U.S.A.

    John S. Touliatos & Genaro M. A. Palmieri M.D.

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  1. John S. Touliatos
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  2. Genaro M. A. Palmieri M.D.
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Recipient of a NIH Medical Student Research Fellowship Program Award T35 DK07405

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Touliatos, J.S., Palmieri, G.M.A. The parathyroid glands and osteoporosis. J Bone Miner Metab 12 (Suppl 1), S71–S73 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02375679

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