Thyroidectomy Patients Benefit from Calcium, Vitamin D

SEOUL, South Korea--Routine oral calcium and vitamin D supplements may help prevent hypocalcemia, a low blood calcium level, after surgical removal of the thyroid gland.
Ninety patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid gland) were randomized and half were given a routine supplement containing oral calcium (3 g/d) and vitamin D (1 g/d) for a period of two weeks; hypocalcemic signs and symptoms, serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were monitored and compared between groups.
Researchers at the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, noted the incidences of symptomatic and laboratory hypocalcemia were significantly lower in the oral calcium/vitamin D group; three out of 45 patients (7 percent) had symptomatic hypocalcemia; and six of 45 (13 percent), laboratory hypocalcemia. In comparison, 11 of 45 (24 percent) of those not receiving the supplement had symptomatic hypocalcemia, and 16 of 45 (36 percent) had laboratory hypocalcemia (P = .02). The hypocalcemic symptoms were minimal in the supplement group but more severe in the group not receiving the supplement; and serum calcium levels decreased in both groups after surgery but recovered earlier in the supplement group. No hypercalcemia (high blood calcium level) or PTH inhibition developed in the supplement group. Researchers concluded routine administration of oral calcium and vitamin D is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of hypocalcemia after a total thyroidectomy.
The study was published in the American Journal of Surgery (doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.03.010).