BIOCHEM 612

CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS

 CALCIUM
• Calcium is an important mineral mainly found
in bone and teeth.
Dietary sources: It is widely distributed in food
substances such as milk, cheese, egg-yolk,
beans, lentils, nuts, figs, cabbage.
Distribution in the body

0.1% in ECF 99% in bones 0.5% in soft tissues

Absorption:
• Calcium is taken in the diet principally as
calcium phosphate, carbonate.
• About 40 per cent of average daily dietary
intake of Ca is absorbed from the gut by
1. Simple diffusion
2. An “active” transport process involving
energy and Ca++ pump.
 Both the processes require 1, 25-di hydroxy-
D3 (calcitriol).
 CALCIUM IN PLASMA
• The normal level of plasma calcium is 9-11
mg/dl.
The calcium in plasma is of 3 types

Plasma protein bound Complexed Calcium, Calcium in ionised form

calcium (41%) (9%) (50%)
Calcium exchange and homeostasis
Ca intake (1000mg/day) Cells
(1300mg)

Absorption Deposition
(350mg/day) (500mg/day)
ECF
Bones
(1300 mg)
Intestine Secretion Resorption
(250mg/day) (500mg/day)
Filtration Reabsorption
(9980mg/day) (9880mg/day)

Depends on
Kidneys
calcium status of
900mg/day
the blood

Urine= 100mg/day
Regulation of calcium homeostasis
Hormonal regulation of calcium homeostasis
• Parathormone (PTH)
• Calcitonin
• Vit.D3
 Functions
• Calcium plays a role in blood coagulation by
producing substances for thromboplastic activity
of blood.
• Calcium has a role in neuromuscular
transmission.
• Needed for excitability of nerves.
• Calcium plays role in muscle contraction.
• Normal excitability of heart is Ca ion dependent.
 CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

• The two conditions namely Hypercalcaemia and

Hypocalcaemia occur.
I. Hypercalcaemia
When the serum calcium level exceeds 11.0 mg/dl, it is
called as hypercalcaemia .
• What is normal concentration ?
• Causes
1. Primary hyperparathyroidism:
2. Malignancy
3. Renal failure
• II. Hypocalcaemia
Hypocalcaemia is said to exist when serum calcium is less than 8.5 mg/dl
as determined by a standard method.
Causes: The commonest causes of hypocalcaemia are
• Hypoparathyroidism
• renal failure.
• surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism.
• Malnutrition, malabsorption states
• Renal Diseases and Renal Failure
 Class Activities
• What are major key players in the regulation
of calcium homeostasis?
• What is inactive form of vit.D3.
• What is the site of synthesis of 25,hydroxy
cholecalciferol?