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Hormonal & Reproductiveapproved

Calcitonin (salmon)

salcatonin
Hormonal & Reproductive · CAS 47931-85-1
Category
Hormonal & Reproductive
Evidence grade
A
PubMed records
1,852
Female-tagged
674
Sex-analysis
6
CAS
47931-85-1
A
Evidence grade A, Approved indication with 674 indexed studies that included female subjects. How grades work →
Female evidence: Direct
Calcitonin (salmon): of 1,852 PubMed records, 674 are tagged as including female subjects and 6 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-24. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Summary

Salmon calcitonin is a 32 amino acid hormone once widely used for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Its 5-year PROOF trial in 1,255 postmenopausal women found a fracture reduction only at the middle of three doses, and a later pooled safety review found more malignancies on drug than placebo, prompting withdrawal of the osteoporosis indication in Europe and a restriction in the United States. It is included here as a worked example of good female enrollment producing a genuinely mixed answer.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
Studied in postmenopausal populations; cycle interactions were not examined.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
Safety in pregnancy and lactation is not established.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
Interaction with menopausal hormone therapy has not been a primary trial endpoint.
Perimenopause & menopause
Evidence
The 5-year PROOF trial (Chesnut 2000) randomized 1,255 postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis and reported a 33% reduction in new vertebral fracture risk at 200 IU daily, but not at 100 or 400 IU, a dose response that did not behave as expected and weakened confidence in the result.
Sex differences
No evidence
The osteoporosis evidence base is predominantly postmenopausal women; comparative male data is limited.

Mechanism

Binds calcitonin receptors on osteoclasts and inhibits their resorptive activity, lowering bone turnover. It is antiresorptive rather than anabolic, and the salmon sequence is more potent at the human receptor than the human sequence.

Reported dosing & routes

We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Approved labeling for the nasal spray is 200 IU daily, alternating nostrils. This site does not publish personal dosing; use is restricted to patients for whom other therapies are unsuitable.
Routesintranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to salmon calcitonin; pregnancy and breastfeeding (safety not established)

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

nasal irritation, dryness and epistaxis (nasal spray)nausea and flushing (injection)possible increased malignancy risk with long-term useantibody formation with loss of response

Calcitonin (salmon) reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for Calcitonin (salmon)

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from Calcitonin (salmon)'s research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is Calcitonin (salmon)?

Calcitonin (salmon), also known as salcatonin, is a research compound in our hormonal reproductive category. Salmon calcitonin is a 32 amino acid hormone once widely used for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Is Calcitonin (salmon) studied in women?

Calcitonin (salmon): of 1,852 PubMed records, 674 are tagged as including female subjects and 6 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this direct female evidence: at least one record carries a sex-analysis tag, so some findings are drawn from women rather than borrowed from mixed or male data. See how we read the evidence.

Has Calcitonin (salmon) been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. Safety in pregnancy and lactation is not established. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does Calcitonin (salmon) have, and why?

Calcitonin (salmon) carries evidence grade A. Approved indication with 674 indexed studies that included female subjects.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for Calcitonin (salmon)?

No. A female-specific dose for Calcitonin (salmon) is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is Calcitonin (salmon) administered in research?

In the published literature, Calcitonin (salmon) is administered via intranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for Calcitonin (salmon)?

Effects reported in the research literature include nasal irritation, dryness and epistaxis (nasal spray), nausea and flushing (injection), possible increased malignancy risk with long-term use, antibody formation with loss of response. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

What is the CAS number for Calcitonin (salmon)?

The CAS registry number for Calcitonin (salmon) is 47931-85-1. It is also referred to as salcatonin, Miacalcin, Fortical, calcitonin-salmon. Use it to confirm identity against a Certificate of Analysis.

How should Calcitonin (salmon) be stored and handled?

Calcitonin (salmon) sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy Calcitonin (salmon) for research?

Calcitonin (salmon) is not currently listed by our research-use partner, Aurevena Research, but their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 applies 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Browse the Aurevena catalog
Research-use supplier: Calcitonin (salmon) isn't currently listed by our research-use vendor. Their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Browse the catalog →

Citations (PMID)

10996576 · 24259626

Related peptides

Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.