The endogenous secretion rate of human calcitonin in normal conditions

This paper presents a study on secretion rate for calcitonin in normal healthy subjects, evaluated by an indirect method. A specific radioimmunoassay for monomeric calcitonin was used and the obtained results are lower than those reported by Kanis in 1982. In normal healthy subjects the secretion rate for calcitonin is 1.4 MRC U/day, i.e. ten times less than the value calculated by Kanis. These results will be able to clarify the role of calcitonin and its effects in normal conditions and in several osteoarticular and metabolic bone diseases.