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The aim of the study was to investigate the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and the secretion rate (SR) of calcitonin (CT) in elderly men and women (mean age ± SE: 75 ± 3 and 78 ± 3 yr, respectively). The basal levels of CT were higher in men than in women (9.6 ± 3.2 vs 6.0 ± 1.5 pg/ml; p< 0.05). The MCR was not significantly different between sexes (905 ± 54.2 vs 810 ± 165.1 l/day). In contrast, CT SR was significantly higher in male subjects compared to women (8.7 ± 3.1 vs 4.8 ± 1.5 MQ/day; p < 0.05). These findings suggest that only a few units of CT are secreted daily by elderly subjects and that the lower basal values of the hormone in women are probably the result of a lower production rate.