Hypercalcemia

Hyperparathyroidism from a parathyroid adenoma can drive calcium levels up and cause hypercalcemia. Cancer is a rare but serious cause of hypercalcemia. Reflexively reducing vitamin D when hypercalcemia is detected is often misguided; dietary calcium excess or parathyroid dysfunction are more likely causes. Hypercalcemia from extreme vitamin D doses is a relatively uncommon cause of kidney stones compared to underlying kidney dysfunction. Lithium use can raise blood calcium levels. Dairy elimination allows much higher vitamin D doses to be used safely, showing diet directly controls toxicity risk. Elevated blood calcium produces symptoms similar to diabetes, including excessive thirst and increased urination. Abnormally high blood calcium causes free calcium to circulate and deposit throughout the body, including as kidney stones and soft-tissue calcification. Hypercalcemia causes excess calcium to settle in the kidneys, potentially forming stones. Certain malignancies release calcium from bone into circulation, contributing to hypercalcemia. Eliminating dairy products prevents excessive calcium absorption at high vitamin D doses. Urinary calcium monitoring serves as an early warn…