title: Calcium and vitamin D metabolism during lactation.
abstract: Calcium transfer to the fetus in late pregnancy and the subsequent transfer of calcium to milk represent the greatest challenges to calcium homeostasis in adult animals. The adaptation of the maternal calcium homeostatic mechanisms is the result of a complex interplay between calciotropic hormones and the tissues, intestine, bone, and kidney, responsible for providing the large amounts of calcium needed to support fetal skeletal growth and lactation. In this review, we will discuss general calcium homeostasis followed by a review of the specific adaptations required by the human, rat, and cow to meet fetal and lactational demands for calcium. Finally, we will review what is known about the regulation of calcium transfer from the plasma to the milk.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Animal Disease Center, Metabolic Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, Ames, Iowa 50010-0070, USA. rhorst@nadc.ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013045:Species Specificity; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium