Protect Those Bones

More reasons to adhere to a gf diet, but it may not be enough

One of the pitfalls of having an autoimmune disorder is the possibility of developing other related issues. Osteoporosis is a known complication of celiac disease, and two new studies reaffirm that people with celiac disease have an increased risk for bone loss problems. The good news: following a gluten-free diet can truly help, particularly children. The bad news: for adults with higher autoimmune responses, diet alone may not be sufficient to arrest the damage.

Reduced bone mineral density is often found in individuals with celiac disease. A new article in the journal Nutrition Reviews examines the literature on the topic and reveals that a gluten-free diet can affect children's recovery.

Metabolic bone disease remains a significant and common complication of celiac disease. Reduced bone mineral density can lead to the inability to develop optimal bone mass in children and the loss of bone in adults, both of which increase the risk of osteoporosis. There also exists an additional risk of fracture in people with celiac disease.

That said, evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet promotes a rapid increase in bone mineral density that leads to complete recovery of bone mineralization in children. A gf diet improves – although rarely normalizes – bone mineral density in adults. Children may attain normal peak bone mass if the diagnosis is made and treatment is given before puberty, thereby preventing osteoporosis in later life.

Also, nutritional supplements consisting of calcium and vitamin D seem to increase the bone mineral density of children and adolescents with celiac disease.

"Our findings reinforce the importance of a strict gluten-free diet, which remains the only scientific proven treatment for celiac disease to date," the authors conclude. "Early diagnosis and therapy are critical in preventing celiac disease complications, like reduced bone mineral density."

However, new links have been found between osteoporosis and celiac disease.

People with celiac disease also may develop osteoporosis because their immune system attacks their bone tissue, a new study has shown. According to this research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it is the first time an autoimmune response has been shown to cause damage to bones directly.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh studied a protein called osteoprotegerin (OPG) in people with celiac disease. In healthy people, OPG plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health by controlling the rate at which bone tissue is removed. The latest research shows that 20 percent of celiac patients produce antibodies that attack the OPG protein and stop it working properly, resulting in rapid bone destruction and severe osteoporosis.

It was previously thought that osteoporosis develops in celiac patients simply because they cannot properly absorb calcium and vitamin D. The team found that although this new form of osteoporosis did not respond to calcium and vitamin D supplements, it can be treated with drugs that prevent bone loss.