Other Conditions

1. Diseases that cause calcium and vitamin D deficiencies
2. Hypoparathyroidism
3. Calcium and vitamin D deficiency
4. Chronic kidney disease
5. Gastrointestinal disease

DISEASES THAT CAUSE CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCIES

There are many reasons people need to supplement with calcium and vitamin D besides bone health and aging. Some common conditions where people experience calcium and vitamin D deficiencies include people with

• Hypoparathyroidism
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Aging adults
• Chronic kidney disease
• Metabolic bone diseases like osteoporosis
• Gastrointestinal diseases like celiac disease and gastroparesis
• Diseases of malnutrition like anorexia or bulimia

Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphate, and the calcium ion are the main factors that regulate the concentration of calcium in our bodies. The most common causes of calcium deficiencies are disorders of PTH or vitamin D.

Hypoparathyroidism causes calcium deficiency or hypocalcemia because PTH secretion is either decreased or completely lacking and therefore is not acting properly on the kidneys, bone, and intestines. Causes of parathyroid gland destruction include neck surgeries, abnormal development, autoimmune causes or alterations in regulation of parathyroid hormone production and secretion.

CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

When there is a calcium deficiency, PTH levels increase in an attempt to correct the hypocalcemia. In some conditions, the increase in PTH will fail to correct the hypocalcemia. Common causes of persistent calcium deficiency despite high PTH values include vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D resistance, pseudohypoparathyroidism, and chronic kidney disease.

Vitamin D deficiency causes calcium deficiency. Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium in the intestines and for re-absorption of calcium from the kidneys. There can be many causes for vitamin D deficiency, but the most common ones are malabsorption, reduced exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet light), poor dietary intake of vitamin D, and decreased metabolism of vitamin D.

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also a common cause of vitamin D deficiency. This is due to the kidneys inability to convert vitamin D into calcitriol or activated vitamin D and to maintain balance between other ions such as phosphate. Calcium deficiency in chronic kidney disease often occurs in end-stage disease, and it is important for people with CKD to maintain adequate calcium and vitamin D levels.

GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE

Gastrointestinal problems can cause absorption issues of necessary nutrients. Malabsorption in the small intestine can reduce the absorption of vitamin D causing a vitamin D deficiency. Celiac disease is a common condition that causes malabsorption in the small intestines. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is an uncommon condition that can also cause malabsorption in the small intestine. Both celiac disease and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction cause vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D deficiency may, in turn, lead to low bone mineral density or calcium deficiency.