Influence of Age and Sex on Plasma Calcitonin in Human Beings

Abstract

THE function of many endocrine glands is influenced by age and sex.1 Only recently have these two factors been shown to influence the secretion of the calcemic peptide hormones parathyroid hormone and calcitonin.2 3 4 To evaluate the effects of age and sex on plasma calcitonin in human beings, we expanded our preliminary studies5 and measured plasma levels of the hormone by radioimmunoassay in 137 normal subjects of both sexes. We found that irrespective of age, the increase in calcitonin in response to calcium infusion was greater in men than in women, but that basal levels of calcitonin and the response to . . .