Vitamin D and Safer Thyroid Surgery

By: Dr. Eyas Alkhalili, Mark D Ehrhart, Houriya Ayoubieh, Mark R Burge

One of the most common complications after thyroid surgery is low calcium, caused when the parathyroid glands are temporarily “shocked” during surgery. Doctors have long wondered whether vitamin D deficiency before surgery could make this complication more likely.

Dr. Eyas Alkhalili and colleagues reviewed thyroid surgery patients to see if those with lower vitamin D levels were at higher risk of postoperative hypocalcemia. While low vitamin D was common, the study showed it was not the only factor driving calcium changes after surgery. The research highlights the need for comprehensive preoperative assessment rather than relying on a single lab value.

For patients, this means your surgical team looks at the whole picture — vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid function, and surgical expertise — to minimize risks. This work helps surgeons fine-tune preparation and counseling so patients can go into thyroid surgery with more confidence and fewer complications.