Increased calcium intake may reduce risk of primary hyperparathyroidism

In recent years, many basic science and clinical studies have provided evidence that untreated primary hyperparathyroidism is associated with an increased incidence of hypertension, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and even breast and prostate cancer.1 2 3 4 5 6 Primary hyperparathyroidism is now known to exacerbate or underpin many more diseases and conditions than the classic osteoporosis and kidney stones. Physicians no longer wait until one of the classic complications arises but take a more proactive approach and recommend parathyroidectomy once the diagnosis has been secured. Such an approach is now easier because parathyroidectomy has become available as an outpatient procedure over the past decade.7

A linked cohort study …