[PHNUTR-L] Bone mineral density in children with celiac disease. Effect of a Gluten-free diet

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

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	Positive Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet on Bone Mineral Density in 
Children with Celiac Disease

Reference: 	“Bone mineral density in children with celiac disease. 
Effect of a Gluten-free diet,” Tau C, Mautalen C, et al, Eur J Clin 
Nutr., 2006; 60(3): 358-63. (Address: Metabolismo Calcico y Oseo, 
Endocrinologia, Hospital de Pediatria J.P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, 
Argentina. E-Mail: cristinatau at uol.com.ar ).
Summary: 	In a longitudinal and prospective study involving 24 children 
diagnosed with celiac disease (18 girls, 6 boys; 16 under the age of 4 
years and 8 over the age of 4 years), 58% of the children were found to 
have low (below -1 standard deviation) axial bone mineral density (BMD), 
which reverted to normal in most children under the age of 4 years who 
strictly adhered to a gluten-free diet. At baseline, mean BMD was 0.46 
g/cm(2), the BMD Z-score was -1.36 and was below -1 standard deviation 
in 14 children (58%). After 1.17 years on a gluten-free diet, mean BMD 
increased to 0.55 g/cm(2), and BMD Z-score improved to -0.23. Adherence 
to the gluten-free diet led to a significant increase in bone mineral 
content (BMC) and BMD in all children. However, BMD increased by more 
than 1 standard deviation in 15 of the 16 children under the age of 4 
years and in only 4 of the 8 children over the age of 4 years, some of 
whom did not strictly follow the gluten-free diet. Additionally, heigh t 
and weight significantly increased with the gluten-free diet, and this 
increase was found to be positively correlated with the increase in BMD. 
Thus, these findings suggest that a gluten-free diet significantly 
increases BMD in children with celiac disease having low BMD, especially 
those under the age of 4 years.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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