Effects of Porcine Calcitonin on Calcium Metabolism in Osteoporosis*

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Abstract
The effect of the administration of porcine calcitonin together with dietary Ca and P supplements for a period of 3 months to 7 osteoporotic patients was evaluated by means of clinical observation, Ca-balance studies, kinetic tracer studies, and neutron activation analysis. Clinical improvement was evidenced in this study by a decrease in back pain and a cessation of spontaneous fractures. The compartmental analysis and the balance studies indicated a decrease in the resorption rate, and a small increase in the Ca balance. Direct measurement of total body calcium by in-vivo neutron activation analysis also showed a small increase in the calcium concentration in the skeleton of several of the patients. Taken by themselves, the objective data are not highly significant, but together with the clinical findings, they suggest a potential efficacy of calcitonin therapy. The three month period studied appears to be insufficient for the accumulation of significant amounts of calcium. The direction of the changes is positive, and the results suggest that there is a possibility of significantly increasing the total level of whole body calcium over longer periods of time (probably up to one year). The total level of calcium appears to be one parameter which can be linked quantitatively with osteoporosis as an index of the severity of the condition. Whole body neutron activation is the one technique capable of providing an accurate measure of the absolute level of whole body calcium. The results of the present study and other studies reported in the literature indicate the need for dietary Ca and P supplementation in a program of calcitonin therapy. If the supplementation is not provided, there is a possibility of stimulating the secretion of parathyroid hormone by the hypocalcemic action of calcitonin, and not only negating the effect of the calcitonin, but even exacerbating the osteoporosis. The variability in results of CT therapy of osteoporosis reported in the literature may stem from the variation in the levels of calcium intake.

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