Calcium & Phosphate Disorders
Answers to common questions about calcium & phosphate disorders.
Questions on this page
Why are calcium and phosphate important?
They are essential for bone mineralization and also play important roles in nerve, muscle and cellular function.
What causes high calcium?
Important causes include:
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Malignancy
- Certain medications
- Vitamin D-related disorders
- Other less common endocrine and genetic conditions
What causes low calcium?
Possible causes include:
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Kidney disease
- Low magnesium
- Certain medications
- Other metabolic disorders
What is hypophosphatemia?
Hypophosphatemia means low phosphate in the blood. It can result from nutritional, renal, hormonal or genetic causes.
Can low phosphate cause bone disease?
Yes. Persistent phosphate deficiency can impair bone mineralization and cause osteomalacia or rickets.
What is FGF23?
FGF23 is a hormone involved in phosphate regulation and vitamin D metabolism.
Can excess FGF23 cause bone disease?
Yes. Excess FGF23 can cause renal phosphate wasting and hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.