Your parathyroid glands are four tiny structures that sit behind the thyroid gland in your neck. They produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH). To maintain the health of your parathyroid glands, you need to maintain your body's supply of vitamin D. If your levels of this vitamin fall too low, you can develop a condition called secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Parathyroid Health
Your parathyroid glands strictly control the amount of calcium that circulates in your bloodstream; you need this mineral in your blood to support the normal function of your muscles and your nervous system. If you don't have enough blood calcium, you can develop secondary hyperparathyroidism. This condition sets in when your parathyroids enlarge abnormally and increase their output of PTH. The increased hormone output makes your body pull calcium from your bones and also makes you reabsorb extra amounts of calcium from your kidneys and intestines. Potential consequences of these system alterations include broken bones, deformities in your bone structure and swelling in your joints.
The Role of Vitamin D
You need vitamin D to maintain your blood calcium levels and efficiently absorb the calcium content of the foods in your diet, according to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Along with PTH, it also helps maintain your blood levels of another mineral called phosphate, or phosphorus. Problems associated with vitamin D are a main cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Potential sources of these problems include poor vitamin D absorption in your intestines, lack of sufficient amounts of the vitamin in your diet, the vitamin D-related bone disease called rickets and medication-related difficulties in breaking down vitamin D in your system.
Vitamin D Requirements
Infants need 400 IU of vitamin D per day, the ODS reports. People between the ages of 1 and 70 need 600 IU a day, while people over the age of 70 should increase input to 800 IU. Food sources of the vitamin include egg yolks, mackerel, salmon, sardines and beef liver, as well as fortified juices, cereals and dairy products. You can also get vitamin D from supplements or by briefly exposing your skin to direct sunlight. While there can be minor differences in the chemical structure of the vitamins gained from these different sources, they will all help you fulfill your daily requirements.
Treatment and Considerations
If you have secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by vitamin D problems, you can usually restore your parathyroid health by correcting these problems, MedlinePlus explains. In some cases, you may need to take a prescription form of the vitamin to boost your body's supply. If you take too much vitamin D, you can develop a condition called hypervitaminosis D, which can also elevate your calcium levels and trigger harmful changes in your bones. Typically, hypervitaminosis appears in people who take prescribed vitamin D supplements. Consult your doctor for more information on the links between vitamin D and parathyroid health.
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