Facts

• Abnormalities of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium are common and collectively are called disorders of mineral metabolism, according to PubMed Central. With the combined efforts of the parathyroid hormone---PTH--and calcitonin, the body regulates the levels of calcium in your bones, kidneys, and intestines. PTH increases or decreases in order to balance the level of calcium in your body. With calcitonin, PTH also helps your intestines to absorb calcium, according to Merck.
  
  

Types

• Calcium absorption disorders include hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism and hypocalcemia. Hypercalcemia develops when your body has absorbed too much calcium. Hypocalcemia develops when there isn't enough calcium in your system. Hyperparathyroidism occurs when your body has created too much PTH and you have too much calcium and low levels of phosphorous in your body.
  
  

Causes

• Hypercalcemia can be caused by hyperparathyroidism, too much calcium or vitamin D, cancer, bone disorders and inactivity for long periods of time. According to Merck, "In about 90 percent of people with primary hyperparathyroidism, the abnormality is a noncancerous tumor in one of the parathyroid glands. In the remaining 10 percent, the glands simply enlarge and produce too much hormone." The condition most commonly develops in older women who have had radiation treatment to the neck. It may also be hereditary.
  
  Hypocalcemia is caused by a low level of PTH, missing parathyroid glands at birth, low levels of magnesium, vitamin D deficiency, kidney dysfunction, not enough calcium in your diet, pancreatitis and some prescription medications, according to Merck.
  
  

Symptoms

• Hypercalcemia often has no symptoms, but early symptoms may include constipation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. You may also urinate more and experience dehydration and increased thirst. Very severe hypercalcemia causes confusion, emotional disturbances, delirium, hallucinations and coma, and may lead to death if severe enough or left untreated, according to Merck.
  
  Over time, the symptoms of hypocalcemia often include confusion, memory loss, delirium, depression, hallucinations. These disappear once calcium levels are restored, according to Merck. With extremely low calcium levels, you may experience tingling, muscle aches, muscle spasms in the throat, stiffening and spasm of muscles, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms.
  
  

Treatment

• The treatment of hypercalcemia involves determining the cause for the abnormality in the calcium levels and focusing the treatment on the individual cause. Correcting dehydration, prescription medications, dialysis and administering diuretics are some of the forms treatment may take. Mild hypercalcemia is generally treated by drinking extra fluids. Hyperparathyroidism is usually treated surgically, which is successful in almost 90 percent of cases, according to Merck. When symptoms of hypocalcemia appear, calcium is usually given intravenously. Vitamin D supplements and diuretics may also be given.