Patient/caregiver was instructed upon calcitonin and mechanism of action as follows:
- Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the c-cells of the thyroid gland, in response to elevated levels of serum calcium. Elevated levels of serum calcium stimulate synthesis of calcitonin from the thyroid gland.
- Calcitonin inhibits or slows down the resorption of bone, thus inhibiting the migration of calcium from the bone into the blood.
- Calcitonin also promotes renal excretion of calcium and phosphorus, thus helping to regulate elevated serum calcium towards optimal.
- Calcitonin also promotes bone formation, by increasing the deposition of calcium into the bone, thus contributing to a net increase in bone mass and a reduction in serum calcium levels.
- Thus, calcitonin, by various mechanisms, plays a significant role in reducing the excess serum calcium and helps maintain optimal levels of serum calcium.
