OBJECTIVE: the present study was designed to compare the bone mineral density of children and adolescents with celiac disease to the bone mineral density of controls, and to evaluate laboratory analysis of calcium metabolism of celiac disease patients. METHODS: thirty celiac disease patients (17 children, 13 adolescents), on a gluten-free diet, and 23 healthy subjects were studied. Tests of bone mineral density of the lumbar spine (DEXA, Lunar) were performed in all patients and controls. Laboratory analysis of calcium metabolism was performed in all patients. RESULTS: mean weight and height of adolescents with celiac disease were lower than mean weight and height of controls (p<0.05). Bone mineral density in adolescents with celiac disease was significantly reduced if compared to controls (p=0.015), whereas no significant difference was found among children with celiac disease and controls. The number of adolescents who had started a gluten-free diet after the age of 2 years was higher than in children (p=0.003). Serum levels of ionized calcium, total calcium and parathormone were normal. CONCLUSIONS: the one mineral density of adolescents with celiac disease was lower than controls; whereas, no difference was found between the bone mineral density of children with celiac disease and controls.
celiac disease; diet therapy; bone density; child; adolescent
