Have you ever heard the word calcitonin? Maybe you heard it from a doctor, or maybe you read it somewhere. This is actually a special hormone in our body. But it can also be said that it is a bit of a mysterious hormone. Let's see what this calcitonin is and what it does to our body in a simple way.
What is calcitonin? Where does it come from?
Simply put, calcitonin is a hormone produced by our thyroid gland. You know that the thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of our neck, just under the skin. A special type of cell in the thyroid gland, called C-cells or parafollicular cells, makes this calcitonin hormone and releases it into our blood.
But the strange thing is, scientists still don't fully understand the exact function of this hormone, calcitonin. That is, we know what it does, but we don't really know why we have it. Even if there are abnormalities in calcitonin levels, they rarely cause any major symptoms, or sometimes none at all.
In the past, doctors used synthetic forms of calcitonin as a treatment for certain conditions. For example, to treat conditions such as Paget's disease of the bone, or hypercalcemia, a condition in which calcium in the blood is too high. But now, with the advent of newer drugs, especially bisphosphonates, calcitonin is rarely used as a treatment.
What does calcitonin do to our body?
The main function of the hormone calcitonin is to lower the level of calcium in our blood. Remember, this is about the calcium in the blood, not the calcium in the bones. It does this in two main ways:
1. It stops the activity of bone-resorbing cells: There is a type of cell called osteoclasts in our bones. These cells break down our bones and add the calcium to the blood. The hormone calcitonin temporarily stops the activity of these osteoclasts. This reduces the amount of calcium added to the blood.
2. Reduces the reabsorption of calcium from the kidneys into the blood: Calcium is excreted with the urine filtered by our kidneys. However, some calcium is reabsorbed by the kidneys into the blood. The hormone calcitonin reduces the reabsorption of calcium from the kidneys into the blood in this way. Due to this, the calcium level in the blood decreases.
Think of it this way: the calcium level in our blood is like the water level in a water tank. Calcitonin is like someone who helps lower that water level when it rises.
Why does our thyroid produce calcitonin?
Our thyroid gland produces calcitonin based on the level of calcium in our blood. When the level of calcium in the blood increases, the thyroid gland produces more calcitonin. Similarly, when the level of calcium in the blood decreases, the amount of calcitonin produced by the thyroid gland also decreases. This is like an automatic control.
How to check calcitonin levels? Why is this test done?
Your doctor can take a blood test to check your calcitonin levels.
However, because abnormal calcitonin levels do not usually cause major symptoms, doctors usually only order this test for a few specific reasons. These include:
- To help diagnose conditions such as Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) or C-cell hyperplasia .
- Monitor the success of treatments for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
- If someone in your family has a disease called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN type 2) .
What is a normal calcitonin level?
Generally, the normal values for calcitonin are as follows:
- For men: Less than 25 picograms per milliliter (Less than 25 pg/mL)
- For women: Less than 20 picograms per milliliter (Less than 20 pg/mL)
But one thing to keep in mind is that these normal values may vary slightly from lab to lab. Therefore, you should always look at the normal values for the lab on your blood report.
If you have a calcitonin test, your doctor will explain the results to you and tell you whether further testing is needed.
What happens if calcitonin levels increase?
Having high levels of calcitonin doesn't seem to have any major negative effects on our bodies. And it doesn't cause any major symptoms. However, elevated levels of calcitonin can be a sign of two very rare conditions. What are they:
1. Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC): This is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thyroid gland. It starts in the C-cells that produce calcitonin. This cancer causes these cells to produce too much calcitonin.
2. C-cell hyperplasia: This is not cancer (noncancerous). However, it is an abnormal growth of C-cells. This enlarged tissue can produce too much calcitonin. Sometimes, this condition called C-cell hyperplasia can later develop into medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
If you have symptoms of either of these conditions, your doctor may recommend a calcitonin test.
What happens if calcitonin levels decrease?
Low levels of calcitonin don't seem to have much of an effect on our bodies. Even people who have had their thyroid removed completely, and therefore have undetectable levels of calcitonin, don't experience any symptoms related to their blood calcium levels. This is the strange thing about this hormone.
What is the difference between Parathyroid Hormone and Calcitonin?
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) and Calcitonin both help control the level of calcium in our blood. However, the difference lies in how they work and how much they affect our calcium levels.
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases the level of calcium in our blood. PTH also helps control the level of phosphorus in our blood and bones. It also activates vitamin D.
- Calcitonin reduces the level of calcium in our blood.
However, scientists believe that parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays a greater role than calcitonin in controlling the level of calcium in our blood. This is mainly because abnormal PTH levels can lead to serious conditions such as hypercalcemia (high blood calcium) or hypocalcemia (low blood calcium). However, abnormal calcitonin levels do not have a significant effect on the body.
Are calcitonin and calcitriol the same thing?
No, calcitonin and calcitriol are two different things. Although both hormones affect calcium levels, they have different functions.
- Calcitriol is another name for active vitamin D. It increases the level of calcium in the blood. How does it do that? It increases the amount of calcium that can be absorbed into our intestines from the foods we eat. That calcium then enters the blood. Calcitriol also prevents the kidneys from losing calcium. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates the enzyme that converts vitamin D to calcitriol.
- Calcitonin works by reducing calcium levels in the blood.
So, finally, the things we need to remember (Take-Home Message)
Calcitonin is a somewhat strange and mysterious hormone.
- Whether the level is low or high, it is unlikely to cause any major adverse effects or symptoms.
- However, elevated calcitonin levels can be a sign of a condition such as medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or C-cell hyperplasia.
- If you have symptoms of these conditions, or if you have questions about your risk of developing them, be sure to talk to your doctor. They are there to help you. Don't panic, the most important thing is to be clear about everything.
Got it? I hope this information is useful to you.
` Calcitonin, Calcitonin, Thyroid, Hormone, Calcium, Blood Calcium, Medullary Thyroid Cancer
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