Aging alters calcium regulation of serum concentration of parathyroid hormone in healthy men

The serum of healthy elderly and adult men were analyzed after intravenous infusion of calcium gluconate to determine the effects of aging on the levels of blood ionized calcium and serum parathyroid (PTH) hormone. The morning fasting serum PTH levels of 74-year-old males were significantly higher than 39-year-old males. Elderly males with glomerular filtration rates that are greater than 70 milliliters per minute also exhibited sustained decrease in blood ionized calcium levels.