The peptide hormones of the anterior pituitary are essential for the regulation of growth and development, reproduction, responses to stress, and intermediary metabolism. Their synthesis and secretion are controlled by hypothalamic hormones and by hormones from the peripheral endocrine organs. A large number of disease states as well as a diverse group of drugs also affect their secretion. | salts are available for human use, the most frequently prescribed being the carbonate. Other salts available include calcium lactate, gluconate, phosphate, and citrate as well as hydroxyapatite. Lead contamination of some lots of powdered bone diminishes the acceptability of this product. Calcium citrate may be more efficiently absorbed than other salts. However, absorption efficiency for most commonly prescribed calcium products is reasonable, and for many patients cost and palatability outweigh modest differences in efficacy. Traditional dosing of calcium is about 1000 mg/day, nearly the amount present in a quart of milk. Added to the 500 to 600 mg of dietary calcium that typifies the diet of elderly men and women, this provides a total daily intake of about 1500 mg. More than this amount may be necessary to overcome endogenous intestinal calcium losses, but daily intakes of 2000 mg or more frequently are reported to be constipating. Calcium supplements are most often taken with meals.
