Whereas vitamin D is important to ensuring that the body absorbs adequate amounts of calcium and phosphates from food, the parathyroid glands found at the base of the thyroid gland is important to maintaining normal levels of calcium. Hypo-parathyroidisim is the condition where these glands have failed, most often seen in BioSeek Clinics due to an autoimmune destruction as part of APS-1. Seizures and spasms of the muscles (tetany) may result. The disease is treated by an activated form of vitamin D plus calcium supplements. Patients (most often middle age and elderly adult women) can develop parathyroid tumors. Here the parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels elevate the blood calcium in part by taking it from bone. Rising calcium levels can cause mental confusion, muscular weakness, and an inability to concentrate urine, kidney stones and bone pain. When a Clinic work-up reveals hyperparathyroidism, the tumors are identified and most often removed, although some patients can be controlled by biphosphonates. Persons with parathyroid tumors may develop other tumors of the endocrine glands (multiple endocrine adenomas or MEA) as may their family members. These will be actively sought in Clinic patients with parathyroid tumors.
