Epidemiological evidence for the disruption of ionized calcium homeostasis in the elderly

J Clin Epidemiol. 1997 Jul;50(7):845-9. doi: 10.1016/s0895-4356(97)00017-6.

Abstract

Ionized calcium (Ca2+), phosphate, albumin, total calcium, and pH measurements taken from participants in a large population-based epidemiological study were examined to determine the change in physiological variation with age for persons over 43 years old. Only Ca2+ showed a statistically significant increase in SD with age (p < 0.0001). The Ca2+ coefficients of variation (CV) increased from 2.92% in the youngest age group (43-54 years) to 3.69% in the oldest age group (75-86 years of age). In females, the increase in Ca2+ variability was nearly complete by age 55. Males also showed a significant (p = 0.006) increase in SD between the 43-54 age group and the 55-64 age group, however, Ca2+ variability did not plateau after age 55 in men as it did in women. In the 43-54 (p = 0.04) and 55-64 (p = 0.03) age group men showed significantly better physiological control of Ca2+ than women. Phosphate showed a slight decrease in CV with age. These data suggest that Ca2+ homeostasis is disrupted in the same age groups that are most vulnerable to osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / blood*
  • Aging / physiology
  • Calcium / blood*
  • Cations / blood
  • Female
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphates / blood
  • Serum Albumin / analysis
  • Sex Characteristics

Substances

  • Cations
  • Phosphates
  • Serum Albumin
  • Calcium