What is Calcitonin?
Calcitonin is a hormone that plays a role in regulating the level of calcium in your blood by decreasing it.
What is a calcitonin test?
A calcitonin test measures the level of calcitonin in a sample of your blood. Calcitonin is a hormone that helps control the level of calcium in your blood. Calcitonin is made in your thyroid gland by cells called "C cells." Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck.
Where is Calcitonin produced?
Calcitonin is a hormone that is produced in humans by the parafollicular cells (commonly known as C-cells) of the thyroid gland.
What are the functions of Calcitonin?
Calcitonin is involved in regulating levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood. Its biological function in humans is to have a relatively minor role in calcium balance. It works by opposing the action of parathyroid hormone, which means that it acts to reduce calcium levels in the blood. However, the importance of this role in humans is unclear, as patients who have very low or very high levels of calcitonin show no adverse effects.
The secretion of both calcitonin and parathyroid hormone is determined by the level of calcium in the blood. When levels of calcium in the blood increase, calcitonin is secreted in higher quantities. When levels of calcium in the blood decrease, this causes the amount of calcitonin secreted to decrease too.
The secretion of calcitonin is also inhibited by the hormone somatostatin, which can also be released by the C-cells in the thyroid gland.
Calcitonin reduces calcium levels in the blood by two main mechanisms:
→ It inhibits the activity of osteoclasts, which are the cells responsible for breaking down bone. When bone is broken down, the calcium contained in the bone is released into the bloodstream. Therefore, the inhibition of the osteoclasts by calcitonin directly reduces the amount of calcium released into the blood. However, this inhibition has been shown to be short-lived.
→ It can also decrease the reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys, again leading to lower blood calcium levels.
How about manufactured forms of Calcitonin?
Manufactured forms of calcitonin have, in the past, been given to treat Paget’s disease of bone and sometimes hypercalcaemia and bone pain. However, with the introduction of newer drugs, such as bisphosphonates, their use is now very limited.
Why do I need a calcitonin test?
You may need a calcitonin test to help check for medullary thyroid cancer or C-cell hyperplasia if:
You have symptoms of either condition which may include:
→ A lump in the front of your neck
→ Swollen lymph nodes in your neck (also called "swollen glands")
→ Pain in your throat
→ Trouble swallowing or breathing
→ A change in your voice, such as hoarseness
→ A long-lasting cough when you don't have a cold
→ Diarrhea
You have symptoms of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). MEN 2 can affect your thyroid, adrenal, and parathyroid glands. Symptoms depend on which glands are affected. They may include:
→ Fatigue
→ Depression
→ Aches and pains in bones and joints
→ Nausea and vomiting
→ Increased thirst and urination (peeing)
→ High blood pressure
→ Headaches
→ Arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heart)
→ Sweating
You have a family history of MEN 2, which increases your risk of developing medullary thyroid cancer. If MEN 2 runs in your family, you and your family members, including children, may need regular calcitonin tests to help find cancer before you have symptoms. Your provider may also suggest a blood test to check for changes in your RET genes that cause MEN 2.
If you've been diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer, you'll need calcitonin testing to:
Find out how well your treatment is working.
Check whether the cancer has come back after you finish treatment.
What do the results mean?
The meaning of your calcitonin test results depends on the reason you were tested.
If you had a calcitonin test:
To help diagnose or screen for medullary thyroid cancer or C-cell hyperplasia:
A normal calcitonin level may mean that you don't have either condition, but it doesn't rule them out. That's because medullary thyroid cancer and C-cell hyperplasia don't always cause high calcitonin. Your provider may order other tests to learn more.
A high calcitonin level means that the C cells in your thyroid are making too much calcitonin. The higher the level, the more likely it is that you have medullary thyroid cancer or C-cell hyperplasia. But high calcitonin levels may be caused by other conditions, including certain other cancers, certain medicines, and pregnancy. To make a diagnosis, your provider will consider other information, including other test results.
A low calcitonin level is not known to be a medical problem.
To monitor treatment for medullary thyroid cancer or to check whether cancer has come back after treatment:
The meaning of your test results depends on the type of treatment you're having or had. Treatment usually starts with surgery to remove your thyroid gland. Other treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or medicines.
In general:
→ Calcitonin levels that decrease and stay low over time usually mean that your treatment is helping.
→ A calcitonin level that decreases but is still higher than normal may mean that you still have some cancer tissue left in your body. You may need more tests and treatment.
→ A calcitonin level that increases over time usually means that your cancer has returned or spread to other parts of your body.
References:
Felsenfeld AJ, Levine BS. Calcitonin, the forgotten hormone: does it deserve to be forgotten? Clin Kidney J. 2015 Apr;8(2):180-7. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfv011. Epub 2015 Mar 20. PMID: 25815174; PMCID: PMC4370311.
https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/calcitonin/
What happens if I have too much calcitonin?
Normally, you have a small amount of calcitonin in your blood. But if you have too much, it may be a sign of:
→ Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a rare cancer that happens when C cells in your thyroid grow out of control. C cells grow in the inside part of your thyroid, which is called the medulla.
Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that arises from the C-cells in the thyroid gland that secrete calcitonin. It is sometimes associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2b. Patients with medullary thyroid cancer have high calcitonin levels in their bloodstream. However, it is important to note that these high calcitonin levels are a consequence rather than a cause of this cancer.
→ C-cell hyperplasia, a rare condition that causes abnormal growth of C cells in your thyroid. C-cell hyperplasia can turn into medullary thyroid carcinoma.
C-cell hyperplasia (CCH) is characterized by increased mass of C-cells and has been identified as a precursor condition for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
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What happens if I have too little calcitonin?
There does not seem to be any clinical effect on the body as a result of having too little calcitonin as other hormones, particularly parathyroid hormone (PTH), are more important for regulating blood calcium levels. Patients who have had their thyroid gland removed, and have undetectable levels of calcitonin in their blood, show no adverse symptoms or signs as a result of this.
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See your lab reports in clear graphs and tables. Spot patterns, track changes, and compare results over time — all in one place.
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After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file.
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Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest. Complete plan members receive one report entered for free, then $15 per report after that. Unlimited plan members receive ten report entries for free, then $15 per report after that.
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest.
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
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Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
The Complete Plan ($15/month) is perfect for individuals who want ongoing access to their health data. It includes unlimited lab imports, visual tracking, custom ranges, result explanations, full account exports, and secure sharing — all with a simple monthly subscription. You can cancel anytime and restart your plan whenever you're ready — your data will still be there waiting for you. You can also upgrade to the Unlimited Plan at any time, with the cost prorated based on what you've already paid.
The Unlimited Plan ($250 one-time) is also designed for individuals but offers lifetime access with no ongoing subscription. You'll get all the same features as the Complete Plan, plus a larger initial data entry allowance (10 reports), making it a great choice if you prefer a one-time payment and long-term use without monthly fees.
In short:
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
The $15 per report covers the time and care it takes for a real person to review your file, make sure each result is entered correctly, and double-check for accuracy. This ensures your health data is precise and easy to work with — without you having to spend the time doing it yourself.
Prefer to do it yourself? You can always use our free self-entry tool to add results manually — it just takes a bit more time and attention.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
All professional accounts allow you to import and onboard an unlimited number of clients and their lab results. The distinction between professional plans lies solely in the data entry service.
The Pro Monthly Plus plan is priced at $75 per month and includes a data entry service for five reports each month. Additional reports can be self-entered at no extra cost or, if preferred, you can use our data entry service for an additional fee of $15 per report.
The Pro Monthly plan is priced at $45 per month and does not include a data entry service. Self-entry is free for an unlimited number of reports, and you can opt for the data entry service at a fee of $15 per report.
You also have the option to upgrade to higher monthly or to annual plans, which come with substantial discounts. All upgrades can be done directly from your account.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
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Yes, you can download your information anytime. We offer two easy ways to export your lab data:
This makes it simple to save, back up, or share your health data whenever you need.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
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Optimal Result:
0 - 8.4 pg/mL.