Calcium homeostasis Flashcards
Is vitamin D a vitamin?
No, it is a hormone
Where does the synthesis of vitamin D begin?
Keratinocytes in skin
What is vitamin D synthesised from?
Cholesterol
What is essential for cholesterol to be synthesised to vitamin D?
UV B radiation
Where is vitamin D converted to calcidiol?
Liver
Where is calcidiol converted to calcitriol?
Kidneys
What is vitamin D converted to?
Calcidiol
What is calcidiol converted to?
Calcitriol
Which enzyme catalyses to conversion of calcidiol to calcitriol?
1-alphahydroxylase
What does calcitriol do?
Stimulates GI tract to absorb calcium
Flow chart for synthesis of calcitriol
Cholesterol -(UV B)-> vitamin D -> bloodstream -> liver -> calcidiol -> kidneys -(1-alphahydroxylase)->calcitriol
Which hormone stimulates production of 1-alphahydroxylase?
PTH
What impact does PTH have on bone?
Increases resorption - increases movement of calcium from bone fluid to plasma
What impact does PTH have on kidneys?
Stimulates production of 1-alphahydroxylase for conversion of calcidiol to calcitriol
Which three hormones are responsible for regulating calcium concentration?
Vitamin D, calcitonin, PTH
What impact does calcitonin have on osteoclasts?
Inhibits activity
What are the main causes of calcium metabolism disorders?
Too much/little PTH or vitamin D deficiency
What is hypocalcemia?
Total calcium <2.2
What is hypercalcemia?
Total calcium >2.6
Causes of hypocalcemia
Hypoparathyroidism, kidney disease, hyperventilation
Effects of hypocalcemia
Muscle spasms, paraesthesia, arrthymias
Causes of hypercalcemia
Hyperparathyroidism, malignancy