Abstract
Extract: Simultaneous measurements of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in serum were performed in 120 normal subjects who ranged from 6 months to 20 years of age. When plotted as a function of age, these extracellular indices of calcium homeostasis showed changes throughout the growth period and differences in their interrelationships in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Mean serum concentration of minerals was highest during early childhood and decreased parallel to decreases in iPTH and alkaline phosphatase. Between the ages of 6 and 12 years, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus tended to plateau, iPTH was lower, and alkaline phosphatase increased. During adolescence, calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase decreased to adult values, magnesium showed no change, and iPTH increased to adult values.
Plasma ionized calcium, which was higher in middle childhood (mean, 4.59 mg/100 ml) than at ages 12 to 20 years (mean, 4.33 mg/100 ml), showed the expected negative correlation with iPTH (P < 0.005). Total serum calcium did not correlate with iPTH; however, the pattern of decrease of serum calcium with age was similar to growth velocity curves, especially in girls, in whom mean serum calcium was higher (9.93 mg/100 ml) between 8 and 16 years than in boys (9.75 mg/100 ml).
Speculation: Parathyroid hormone is important in maintaining the concentration of plasma ionized calcium in normal children, but the regulation of total serum calcium is different from that in adults. The total serum calcium or factors regulating it may have a direct or indirect influence on the growth process.
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Arnaud, S., Goldsmith, R., Stickler, G. et al. Serum Parathyroid Hormone and Blood Minerals: Interrelationships in Normal Children. Pediatr Res 7, 485–493 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197305000-00001
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197305000-00001
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