Final answer:
Postmenopausal women are sometimes prescribed calcitonin to help maintain their bone calcium levels. Calcitonin decreases blood calcium levels by enhancing calcium absorption and deposition in bone. It is prescribed to reduce osteoclast activity in people with osteoporosis and reduce cartilage degradation in people with osteoarthritis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Postmenopausal women are sometimes prescribed calcitonin to help maintain their bone calcium levels. Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that works hand-in-hand with parathyroid hormone to maintain calcium homeostasis. It decreases blood calcium levels by enhancing calcium absorption and deposition in bone. Pharmaceutical preparations of calcitonin are prescribed to reduce osteoclast activity in people with osteoporosis and reduce cartilage degradation in people with osteoarthritis.