Lastly, parathyroid hormone increases calcium reabsorption and reduces the reabsorption of phosphate from the kidneys, so more phosphate is excreted through the urine.
Parathyroid hormone is produced by the parathyroid glands in response to low serum calcium, and it increases bone resorption to release calcium into the bloodstream.
Less calcium entering the blood is the most common cause and can be due to hypoparathyroidism, or lower levels or lower activity of parathyroid hormone.
Also, people with the genetic disease DiGeorge syndrome, often born with parathyroid glands that are too small and can’t produce enough parathyroid hormone.
Related to this is pseudohyporparathyroidism, which is where the kidneys simply don’t respond to parathyroid hormone because of a genetic defect in the parathyroid hormone receptor.
If calcium levels fall, the four parathyroid glands buried within the thyroid gland release parathyroid hormone which frees up both calcium and phosphate ions from the bones.
This can happen following a thyroid gland removal surgery when the parathyroids are accidentally taken out too or radiation treatment for cancer of the head or neck.