Which condition benefits from thiazide diuretics due to decreased urinary calcium excretion?

Which condition benefits from thiazide diuretics due to decreased urinary calcium excretion?

• A. Osteoporosis
• B. Hypercalcemia
• C. Hyperkalemia
• D. Hypomagnesemia

Answer: (A)

Thiazide diuretics decrease urinary calcium excretion, which helps preserve calcium for the skeleton. They block the Na-Cl cotransporter in the distal tubule, leading to increased calcium reabsorption in the kidney and less calcium lost in urine. This calcium-sparing effect supports bone mineral density and reduces fracture risk, making osteoporosis the condition that benefits from this mechanism. In hypercalcemia, further calcium retention would worsen the problem; thiazides can also cause hypokalemia and may worsen magnesium loss, so those conditions aren’t aided by this effect.

Thiazide diuretics decrease urinary calcium excretion, which helps preserve calcium for the skeleton. They block the Na-Cl cotransporter in the distal tubule, leading to increased calcium reabsorption in the kidney and less calcium lost in urine. This calcium-sparing effect supports bone mineral density and reduces fracture risk, making osteoporosis the condition that benefits from this mechanism. In hypercalcemia, further calcium retention would worsen the problem; thiazides can also cause hypokalemia and may worsen magnesium loss, so those conditions aren’t aided by this effect.