Calcium metabolism in lactating women

During lactation the main source of the breast-milk calcium seems to be maternal bone. The women who breast-fed, lost bone mineral content, which is recovered once breast-feeding ceased. Breast-milk calcium do not depend on an increase in calcium intake by the lactating mother. Calcium demand during lactation is associated with adjustments in the calcium metabolism, such as a decrease in urinary calcium excretion and mobilization of calcium from maternal bone. The classical calciotropic hormones concentrations (PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) are not associated with bone turnover markers or with changes in bone mineral content in the lactating women. However, serum estradiol is strongly associated with calcium balance, bone loss and calcium milk content.