Screening patients with osteoporosis for celiac disease is worthwhile

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A clinical study sheds new light on the link between osteoporosis and celiac disease.
Previous research has suggested that those with osteoporosis are more likely to also have celiac disease, an intestinal disorder in which there is an inability to digest gluten, a component of wheat.

A team at Washington University School of Medicine now reveals that celiac disease really is more common among those with osteoporosis. They looked at 840 individuals, 266 with and 574 without osteoporosis. Celiac disease was found among 12 of those in the osteoporosis group by blood tests and biopsy. Only nine in the group without osteoporosis proved to have celiac disease.

Treatment with a gluten free diet actually improved bone density in those with osteoporosis who also had celiac disease. The findings suggest that it could be worthwhile screening those with osteoporosis for celiac disease to see if they can be helped by therapy.

Source
Archives of Internal Medicine 28th February 2005 Volume 165 pages 393-399

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