# Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

Category: Hormones

Also known as: Parathyroid Hormone, parathyroid hormone, pth, PTH

The parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an important regulator of calcium metabolism. If dietary calcium isn't sufficient, causing blood calcium to decrease, the PTH increases, and removes calcium from bones to maintain a normal amount in the blood. PTH has many other effects…

11 passages · 3 authors · 2009–2024 · Most-cited: [Ray Peat](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/voices/ray-peat/index.md)

Canonical page: https://bioenergeticoracle.com/concepts/parathyroid-hormone-pth

## Synthesis

**Parathyroid hormone (PTH)** is an important regulator of calcium metabolism whose chronic elevation, driven primarily by dietary calcium deficiency, is a central mediator of inflammation, soft-tissue calcification, and suppressed energy production. [Source 1, 5] When blood calcium falls, PTH mobilizes calcium from bone, but its excess is associated with many inflammatory and degenerative diseases, including heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy, and diabetes. [Source 1, 2, 5] Peat argued that simply eating an adequate amount of calcium and magnesium can alleviate many problems related to stress and aging, and that the suppression of PTH is probably the main mechanism by which intravenous calcium relaxes blood vessels and improves heart function. [Source 3, 5]

PTH operates within a network of adaptive stress hormones, and its actions are profoundly antimetabolic. It increases the activity of *nitric oxide synthase*, contributing to vascular leakiness, and causes mast cells to release promoters of inflammation, including histamine and serotonin. [Source 3] PTH suppresses phagocytosis, stimulates the proliferation of lymphocytes and T cells, and can produce anemia by a variety of mechanisms. [Source 2, 5] Roddy has emphasized that PTH increases **lactic acid** formation by bone cells and reduces **carbon dioxide**, shifting cellular energy production toward inefficient glycolysis. [Source 8] Dinkov has characterized PTH as the functional link between the stress system (HPA) and the thyroid, noting that high PTH is known to suppress the synthesis of thyroid hormone. [Source 10]

The primary dietary factor governing PTH secretion is the ratio of **calcium to phosphate**. A generous phosphate intake, typical of Western or even "ancestral" diets heavy in muscle meats, easily leads to increased PTH if calcium intake is insufficient. [Source 7, 8] Peat noted that many things increase PTH, including serotonin, estrogen, cortisol, and prolactin, while **progesterone** and **thyroid** are the main things that help to inhibit it. [Source 11] He also observed that people with high blood calcium are often overdriving their PTH by eating too much phosphate, and that increasing dietary calcium, along with vitamin D and vitamin K, can quickly normalize blood calcium levels. [Source 11] Even baking soda can help lower PTH, and thyroid function is the crucial factor for magnesium retention, which is more important than the dietary calcium-to-magnesium ratio itself. [Source 6]

Maintaining a low PTH level is critical for preventing degenerative processes. Peat stated that if a blood test for PTH is above 40 on the standard scale, a person is probably rapidly calcifying, and he referenced a doctor who aimed to get PTH below 11, where 20 is considered below normal. [Source 4] Dinkov added that a PTH level in the upper 50th percentile is already a cause for worry, and a level in the upper 25th percentile warrants seriously increasing calcium intake or taking vitamin D. [Source 9] Optimal levels of **carbon dioxide**, such as those achieved during adaptation to high altitude, can greatly decrease PTH, an effect similar to supplementing with calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. [Source 2, 3] Frequent, smaller meals can also reduce PTH, making milk a convenient food for this purpose. [Source 3]

## People also ask

### How does parathyroid hormone promote inflammation and tissue damage?

Peat argued that PTH increases nitric oxide synthase, contributing to vascular leakiness, and causes mast cells to release inflammatory promoters like histamine and serotonin. It also suppresses phagocytosis and stimulates lymphocyte proliferation, linking it to many inflammatory and degenerative diseases.

### Why is the dietary calcium-to-phosphate ratio so important for controlling PTH?

The entry describes that a generous phosphate intake, typical of diets heavy in muscle meats, easily leads to increased PTH if calcium intake is insufficient. Peat noted that increasing dietary calcium, along with vitamin D and K, can quickly normalize blood calcium levels by suppressing PTH.

### What blood level of PTH is considered a warning sign for calcification?

Peat stated that a PTH level above 40 on the standard scale indicates a person is probably rapidly calcifying, and he referenced a doctor who aimed for levels below 11. Dinkov added that a level in the upper 25th percentile warrants seriously increasing calcium intake or taking vitamin D.

## Related concepts

- [Anemia](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/concepts/anemia/index.md)
- [Lactic acid](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/concepts/lactic-acid/index.md)
- [Milk](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/concepts/milk/index.md)
- [Adrenaline](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/concepts/adrenaline/index.md)
- [Age Pigment (Lipofuscin)](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/concepts/age-pigment-lipofuscin/index.md)
- [Albumin](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/concepts/albumin/index.md)

## Cited passages

Passage numbers match the `[Source N]` markers in the synthesis above.

### Source 1 — Glossary

Ray Peat · Glossary

> Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
>
> The parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an important regulator of calcium metabolism. If dietary calcium isn't sufficient, causing blood calcium to decrease, the PTH increases, and removes calcium from bones to maintain a normal amount in the blood. PTH has many other effects, contributing to inflammation, calcification of soft tissues, and decreased respiratory energy production.

### Source 2 — Peptides, coherent adaption, and some terminal diseases

Ray Peat · Article · 2009

> Intracellular calcium overload is an essential feature of heart failure and hypertrophy (Malyshev IIu, Meerson, 1990). Both vitamin D and vitamin K require carbon dioxide for disposing of calcium properly, preventing its toxicity. When carbon dioxide is inadequate, for example from simple hyperventilation or from hypothyroidism, calcium is allowed to enter cells, causing inappropriate excitation, sometimes followed by calcification. Keeping an optimal level of carbon dioxide (for example, when adapted to high altitude) causes calcium to be controlled (Arkhipenko, et al., 1992), resulting in lowered parathyroid hormone (PTH), an effect similar to supplementing with calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K (e.g., Nicolaidou, et al., 2006). The contribution of PTH to inflammation and degeneration is just being acknowledged (e.g., Kuwabara, 2008). It suppresses phagocytosis (Esposito, et al., 1988; Smogorzewski, et al., 2001), probably by causing calcium overload, but in other situations it stimulates proliferation of lymphocytes and T cells (Klinger, et al., 1990; Adachi, et al., 1990).
>
> The thyroid hormone, producing carbon dioxide, helps to sustain the level of ionized calcium (Lindblom, et al., 2001). In a vitamin D deficiency, or a calcium deficiency, the parathyroid hormone increases, and this hormone can contribute to many inflammatory and degenerative processes, including heart failure (Smogorzewski, 1995; Halapas, et al., 2006; Sugimoto, et al., 2008) and cardiac hypertrophy (Liu, et al., 2008). ANP and PTH have opposite effects on cellular calcium handling, and increasing the oral intake of calcium increases ANP (Halabe, et al., 1990), but lowers PTH. Consuming enough calcium and vitamin D to keep the parathyroid hormone suppressed (and to support ANP) is important to protect against the degenerative conditions.

### Source 3 — Milk in Context Allergies Ecology and Some Myths

Ray Peat · Article · 2011

> PTH increases the activity of nitric oxide synthase, and nitric oxide is a factor in the vascular leakiness that is so important in MS.
>
> There are components of milk that might protect against tooth decay by inhibiting the binding of bacteria to teeth.
>
> David McCarron has published a large amount of evidence showing how calcium deficiency contributes to high blood pressure. The chronic elevation of PTH caused by calcium deficiency causes the heart and blood vessels to retain calcium, making them unable to relax fully.
>
> Intravenous infusion of calcium can relax blood vessels and improve heart function. The suppression of PTH is probably the main mechanism.
>
> PTH (like estrogen) causes mast cells to release promoters of inflammation, including histamine and serotonin. Serotonin and nitric oxide contribute to increasing PTH secretion.
>
> Removal of the parathyroid gland has reduced heart problems and mortality and insomnia in people with kidney disease and excess PTH.
>
> Increased carbon dioxide, for example when adapted to high altitude, can greatly decrease PTH. Frequent, but smaller, meals can reduce PTH.
>
> Cancer cells often secrete PTH and related proteins with similar effects on calcium, and the PTH stimulates the growth and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells, and seems to be as closely involved with breast cancer. The PTH-related protein is associated with calcification in breast cancer. Microscopic calcium crystals themselve produce inflammation.
>
> Besides being an ecologically favorable source of calcium, protein, sugar, and fat, the composition of milk causes it to be digested efficiently, supporting the growth of bacteria that are relatively safe for the intestine and liver, and reducing the absorption of endotoxin.
>
> Dividing any food into smaller meals can lower the PTH, and milk is a convenient food to use in small amounts and frequently.
>
> Some amino acids directly stimulate insulin secretion, decreasing blood sugar and leading to the secretion of cortisol in reaction to the depression of blood glucose. The presence of lactose in milk, and of fat, to slow absorption of the amino acids, helps to minimize the secretion of cortisol. The main protein of milk, casein, seems to have some direct antistress effects.
>
> Since milk's primary biological function is to support the growth of a young animal, some of its features make it inappropriate as a sole food for an adult.

### Source 4 — The Basics Of Pro-Metabolic w/ Dr. Ray Peat

Ray Peat · Interview · Nov 6, 2024 · https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAzwYYE44r8

> **Sarah:** What could possibly be going on if somebody's blood work or hair test shows low phosphorus despite eating a pretty good amount of meat? This could be where maybe their calcium levels are high too, but their phosphorus shows up as low.
>
> **Ray Peat:** You can't tell very much by a blood test of phosphorus because it's maintained there by several different hormones. It's the amount that is sensed flowing through the system because one of the functions of the parathyroid hormone is to also get rid of a phosphate
>
> **Sarah:** So somebody might be excreting phosphate in their urine, and this could probably indicate they have a lot of parathyroid hormone?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Yes. Occasionally, if you're having a blood test for parathyroid hormone, If you're above 40 on that scale, you're probably rapidly calcifying it. But I've seen people getting along with multiple symptoms who were well over 90 on that scale. They're the ones that are really highly at risk. There's a doctor in Brazil who has had to get their parathyroid hormone down below 11 on that scale for where 20 is considered below normal.

### Source 5 — Calcium and Disease: Hypertension, organ calcification, & shock, vs. respiratory energy

Ray Peat · Article · 2009 · https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/calcium.shtml

> The calcium can enter from the relatively concentrated external fluid, but it can also be released from acidic intracellular stores, the way serotonin is released by a disturbance of pH.
>
> There are several other pro-inflammatory substances, such as the cytokines, that have a similar effect on cellular energy systems. The antimetabolic actions of PTH mimic those seen in aging and diabetes, and surgical removal of the parathyroid glands has been known to eliminate diabetes. PTH can cause diuresis, leading to loss of blood volume and dehydration, hypertension, paralysis, increased rate of cell division, and growth of cartilage, bone, and other tissues.
>
> Simply eating an adequate amount of calcium and magnesium can alleviate many problems related to stress and aging that are considered serious, such as heart arrhythmia, pancreatitis, and tissue calcification. The antiinflammatory, anti-allergy actions of calcium and magnesium are well established, and there is clear evidence that obesity and various emotional disturbances can result from their deficiency.
>
> Chronically high PTH can produce anemia, by a variety of mechanisms. Since a very low sodium diet increases the loss of magnesium, by increasing aldosterone synthesis, simply increasing the amount of sodium in the diet can help some people to balance their minerals and minimize stress. During fasting and other intense stress, the kidneys destroy a large amount of protein to form ammonia to maintain their ability to excrete acids, so using a large amount of the alkaline minerals can reduce the protein catabolism.
>
> A diet of milk and fruit, or milk and meat, provides a nutritional balance with generous amounts of calcium and magnesium. Leafy vegetables are a very rich source of magnesium, but they are also a potential source of large amounts of lead and other toxins.
>
> In 1960, many people, including the U.S. government, were advocating the use of a largely vegetarian diet for children, because of the amount of radioactive strontium in milk. I compared the amount of strontium in a diet of vegetables that would provide the necessary quantity of calcium and protein, and it was clear that vegetables were the worst source of radioactive strontium, because their ratio of strontium to calcium was much higher than the ratio in milk.
>
> The cows were concentrating calcium and protein from the contaminated plant foods, eliminating much of the strontium. This principle still applies to the toxins that are currently found in the U.S. food supply. Milk has many protective effects besides providing calcium.

### Source 6 — Ray Peat Email Advice Depository — Post 523

Ray Peat · Email · Oct 18, 2018

> **Question:** As I understand it, the main purpose of high dietary calcium is to keep Ca:P balanced, so as to minimize PTH. Vitamin D also brings down PTH. Could high vitamin D surrogate for high calcium intake?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Both calcium and vitamin D contribute to lowering PTH. Thyroid hormone and sugar help, too. Even baking soda can help.

### Source 7 — The Crumbling Androgen Hypothesis, Part III: "Mitochondrial Hair Medicine"

Danny Roddy · Article · Jan 13, 2014

> The authors concluded that stress may initiate "male pattern baldness" in young men who were "genetically susceptible".[11]
>
> Often forgotten elements of the stress response include estrogen, serotonin, prolactin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH). There are devoted chapters to estrogen and serotonin in HAIR LIKE A FOX, however, PTH is probably just as important.
>
> Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
>
> When calcium levels dip the parathyroid glands release parathyroid hormone (PTH), which breaks down bone that can act as a large reservoir of minerals in order to supply calcium. While PTH is crucial in the short-term, the chronic release of PTH causes the loss of carbon dioxide in the urine,[12] and increases hormones and signaling substance associated with baldness. For example, PTH increases prolactin and vice versa.[13] PTH, like prolactin, is involved in the "metabolic syndrome",[14] which is also associated with baldness.[15]
>
> In addition to "pro-thyroid" or "anti-stress" approach outlined in HAIR LIKE A FOX, measures to suppress parathyroid hormone are likely worthwhile. A few approaches to keeping a lid on PTH include:
>
> The Ratio of Dietary Calcium to Phosphate
>
> - The dietary ratio of calcium to phosphate seems to be an important factor in limiting the secretion of PTH. A generous phosphate intake, as in a typical western diet, or even some "real food," "ancestral" or "Paleo" diets, could easily lead to increased levels of PTH if calcium intake was insufficient[16,17,18].
>
> Vitamin D -
> Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium in the intestine and is very often deficient. A few years ago, I made a spreadsheet of hormonal anomalies in balding men (over 150 or so gentleman) and vitamin D was commonly found to be in the deficient range of 20-30 ng/dL. One study found that levels of at least 40 ng/dL were needed to suppress PTH,[19] however, The Vitamin D Council suggests that ranges anywhere from 40-80 ng/dL are safe.
>
> Magnesium
>
> - Magnesium is a cofactor for vitamin D, helps suppress PTH, and allows the cell to retain and generate ATP. Thyroid function and estrogen appear to influence the retention of magnesium.

### Source 8 — Casualties of The Nutritional Dark Ages, Part I: Calcium

Danny Roddy · Article · Jul 15, 2013

> Ling's associate-induction hypothesis, we find that the collapse of ion gradients, and the subsequent accumulation of intracellular calcium is preceded by the depletion of the the "queen of cardinal adsorbents" adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.
>
> Parathyroid Hormone & "Inefficient Energy"
>
> Over the last few weeks I've argued that signaling substances such as estrogen, serotonin, cortisol, prolactin, aldosterone and endotoxin 1) antagonize and promote the release of each other and 2) adaptively reduce "efficient" cellular energy production (i.e., glucose to carbon dioxide) and increase reliance on "inefficient" glycolytic energy (i.e., glucose to lactic acid).
>
> Another hormone to add to this list is parathyroid hormone or PTH.
>
> PTH is best known for its role in maintaining plasma calcium and phosphate concentrations. It directly regulates bone cell functions, electrolyte excretion and several other physiological processes.
>
> An increase in PTH removes calcium from bone, which can act as a large reservoir of minerals. While adaptive in the short-term, an excess of PTH is large factor in bone loss, abnormal calcification and inflammation (McCarty, 2005).
>
> The dietary ratio of calcium to phosphate seems to be an important factor in limiting the secretion of PTH. A generous phosphate intake, as in a typical western diet, or even some "real food," "ancestral" or "Paleo" diets, could easily lead to increased levels of PTH if calcium intake was insufficient (Kemi, et al., 2006; 2009; Ohgitani, et al., 1997).
>
> High PTH increases lactic acid formation by bone cells (Nijweide, et al., 1981) and reduces carbon dioxide (Martin C, 1976). Carbon dioxide helps retain calcium and excrete excess phosphate (Canzanello, et al., 1995), while lactic acid increases the loss of calcium (Ashizawa, et al., 1997). Similarly, acetazolamide, a drug that increases carbon dioxide retention, increases calcium retention, reduces lactic acid, and increases phosphate excretion in the urine.
>
> Lactic acid stimulates the release of the pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (Dawes and Rushton 1994), made from polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid, which increases the aromatase enzyme and produces new estrogen.

### Source 9 — #59: PUFA, Aggression, and Puberty | Insomnia and Serotonin | Cortisol, Obesity, and Diabetes

Georgi Dinkov · Interview · Jun 13, 2021 · https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Ei8XYvbJaIGjPtjBQ8Znt

> **Danny Roddy:** Yeah, I was trying to look for the PTH being related to general metabolic syndrome. So, you know, like that hormone has so many negative effects promoting lipolysis, promoting nitric oxide, probably a bunch of other stuff that I don't know. But just keeping it low can seriously improve the quality of life. So good, our buddy, cholecalciferol, you know, that can really be useful.
>
> **Georgi Dinkov:** Yeah, the inactive one. The highly inactive one.
>
> **Danny Roddy:** Very important, and of course, getting enough calcium would work in the same direction in vitamin K and things like that. What was I going to say here? Okay. Scroll down a little bit.
>
> **Georgi Dinkov:** They themselves say vitamin D – further down. In other words, it says vitamin D is – oh, actually up. Is a valid – maybe a valid treatment for this condition. Further up. Oh, okay. There we go.
>
> **Danny Roddy:** Identify a social, uh, although previous studies have, uh, the one in red. Oh, above it. I keep forgetting. Some people only listen to audio on here. Um, the importance of routinely assessing PTH, vitamin D and calcium levels in patients with, uh, what's BD bipolar disorder as a marker of clinical severity and may point to vitamin D as a valid add on treatment for these patients. Uh, what are you thinking of? Somebody goes and they're motivated and they get their parathyroid hormone checked. What are, what are your thoughts on that?

### Source 10 — #68: Nutrition for Thyroid Function | Serotonin and Libido | CO2 and Cancer with Georgi Dinkov

Georgi Dinkov (with Georgi Dinkov) · Interview · Sep 12, 2021 · https://open.spotify.com/episode/6y2xOeFlDqmHlNtrizsFyM

> **Danny Roddy:** Speaking of nutrition, did you have any time to digest the last Ray episode, the PTH and things like that? Anything that stands out to you that was said? You mean the actual recording? Just the things you... I've listened to that episode many times, and I was just... I thought it was really... Again, parathyroid hormone being this powerful, suppressive... Nothing you don't know already, but it just emphasized calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin A, etc., even more than I thought it did. It was pretty interesting.
>
> **Georgi Dinkov:** Well, I guess it's the link between the – I mean, to me, based on studies I've seen, PTH is kind of like the link between the stress system, the HPA, and the thyroid, right? So we know that they're inversely correlated, but it looks like it's PTH that's the actual liaison between them. So when the stress hormones rise, so does PTH, and high PTH is actually known even among mainstream endocrinology circles to actually suppress thyroid – the synthesis of thyroid hormone.
>
> **Danny Roddy:** That's actually a really interesting way to look at it. I didn't think of that. But the parathyroid glands live on the back of the thyroid and the HPA, that's actually, that's genius. That's really interesting. And go ahead.

### Source 11 — Milk Calcium and Hormones East West Healing 2011

Ray Peat · Interview · 2011

> **Jodelle Fitzwater:** From your work, we know parathyroid hormone is inflammatory, and we need to down regulate it and figure out why it’s high. What are the implications of just taking straight up calcium for this ? Can one take too much calcium ?
>
> **Ray Peat:** I often see people with a blood calcium of 11, 12 or 13 (where it should be 9 or 10). And getting them to eat more calcium, and maybe take some vitamin D and vitamin K, they can very quickly get their calcium down to normal. And the reason it’s high is generally because they’re eating too much phosphate, and overdriving their parathyroid hormone.

_Generated 2026-07-20 from the Bioenergetic Oracle corpus._