Experimental Osteoporosis and Parathyroid Activity

Abstract

Adult cats fed a low-calcium diet developed osteoporosis. Control cats fed this same diet with added calcium or cats with their parathyroids removed did not develop osteoporosis. The serum calcium and phosphate values in the low-calcium group were lower than in the controls, suggesting that the dietary calcium deficiency causes a decrease of the serum calcium level which stimulates the parathyroids, thus increasing bone resorption and producing osteoporosis. The bone changes are described and related to parathyroid activity and osteomalacia. (Endocrinology82: 384, 1968)