Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a hormone from four small glands in the neck that holds blood calcium steady. When calcium falls, PTH rises and draws calcium out of bone.
PTH climbs when vitamin D is low, so a high level often points to a nutrition gap. In a ten year study of Canadian adults, vitamin D levels rose while PTH levels fell.1 In men seen for infertility, one form of vitamin D raised blood vitamin D and lowered PTH.2
Vitamin D status matters for both partners, and a high PTH over years puts bone at risk.
Cited in this entry
- Berger C, Greene-Finestone LS, Langsetmo L, Kreiger N, Joseph L, Kovacs CS, Richards JB, Hidiroglou N, Sarafin K, Davison KS, Adachi JD, Brown J, Hanley DA, Prior JC, Goltzman D, CaMos Research Group. Temporal trends and determinants of longitudinal change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels. J Bone Miner Res. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22407786/
- Foresta C, Calogero AE, Lombardo F, Lenzi A, Ferlin A. Late-onset hypogonadism: beyond testosterone. Asian journal of andrology. 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25248651/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
