The effect of calcitonin on glucose metabolism

The authors have studied the effect of calcitonin on glucose metabolism. Ten healthy volunteers were investigated. Calcitonin administered intramuscularly in one single dose inhibited the physiological decrease of blood glucose levels during the forenoon fast. Salmon calcitonin administered in an intravenous infusion in the dose of 0.15 U MRC/kg of body weight impaired the glucose tolerance test with the increase of blood glucose levels. The greatest difference was in the 120th minute after the administration of 100 gm of glucose. Calcitonin failed to produce any significant inhibition of immunoreactive insulin release following the glucose stimulus. However, further studies will be necessary to show whether this lack of the inhibitory beta cytotropic action of calcitonin was due to the low dose of calcitonin.