Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism Flashcards
How much calcium is contained in the body and what is its distribution?
25,000 mmol (1kg)
99% contained in mineral phase of bones as hydroxyapatite
Extracellular, ionised 1.2mmol/L
Intracellular, cytosolic 10^-4-3 mmol/L
What are some biological roles of calcium?
Muscle contraction Nerve excitability intracellular messenger blood coagulation enzymes of intermediary metabolism
How is calcium transported?
47% Bound- largely by albumin, some to small anions like phosphate
47% is unbound/ionised
6% complexed
When measuring serum calcium, which forms are measured?
Can measure total or free calcium
More difficult to measure free
What is the reference range for calcium?
2.20 - 2.60 mmol/L
Where is most calcium absorbed?
Dietary intake of about 25mmol/day, 6mmol are absorbed daily by Duodenum and jejunum
How is calcium absorbed in the GI?
Cell-mediated active transport, influenced by calcitriol, on apical surface of duodenum and jejunum.
Passive diffusion which depends on luminal Ca concentration (unaffected by calcitriol). Occurs paracellularly through claudin tight junctions, along the length of the intestines
Within the kidney, how is calcium moved?
65% reabsorbed at proximal tubule (passive- coupled with Na and water)
20% reabsorbed at thick ascending loop
15% reabsorbed at distal tubule
About 6mmols net excretion /day
Where does PTH influence reabsorption of Ca within the kidneys?
Thick ascending loop and distal tubule
What regulates PTH secretion by parathyroid gland?
Free/ ionised calcium levels which are sensed by calcium sensing receptors (GCPR)
How are PTH levels related to calcium levels?
Inversely.
As calcium increases, PTH decreases.
How does PTH impact the body?
PTH stimulates renal tubular calcium reabsorption
Promotes bone resorption
Stimulates formation of calcitriol in kidney which enhances Ca absorption from gut
How is active vitamin D created?
Cholecalciferol undergoes hydroxylation in liver to 25 Hydroxy cholecalciferol (25 OHCCC)
25 OHCCC then undergoes hydroxylation in the proximal T of the kidneys by 1-alpha hydroxylase, creating 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol, aka 1,25 DHCCC) which is regulated by PTH
What factors influence the hydroxylation of 25 OH cholecalciferol by the kidneys?
PTH
Hypocalcaemia
Hypophosphatemia
What are some examples of causes of hypocalcaemia?
PTH problems- hypoparathyroidism due to neck surgery, idiopathic, magnesium deficiency
Vitamin D problems- deficiency (malabsorption, little sun exposure) or renal disease (kidneys fail to hydroxylate 25 OHCCC into active form)
What are some examples of causes of hypercalcaemia?
PTH problems - Hyperparathyroidism due to adenoma of parathyroid gland, or Grave’s disease (autoantibodies binding/activating parathyroid gland)
Vitamin D Problem- Inappropriate dosage
Malignancy- production of PTH related peptide (it isn’t measure in assays used to measure PTH) in some cases of breast, lung, multiple myeloma cancers
How is malignancy in terms of hypercalcaemia different from other causes?
Hypercalcaemia typically involves high PTH with high calcium.
In malignancy, there can be high calcium with low PTH- but high PTH-related peptide.
The PTH levels will be low as the PTHRP is not measured, but PTHRP is raised in malignancy and will act in the same fashion to raise calcium levels.
Why is phosphate important?
Skeletal development, bone mineralization, composition of cell membranes, nucleotide structure, and cell signalling