Evaluation of Bone Mineral Density in Children with Celiac Disease

Background: Osteoporosis is a known entity in individuals with celiac disease (CD). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in children with CD. Methods: This was a retrospective design study in a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Results: Totally 106 patients were included, and the mean age was 10.2 ± 3.9 years. The mean L1-L4 Z score was 0.730 ± 0.197 (based on sex and height in Turkish children). About 20.7% (n = 22) had a history of at least one fracture and/or bone pain. Bone mineral density values obtained from lumbar (L1-L4) vertebrae were significantly lower in patients with a prior fracture and/or bone pain compared to the patient group without a fracture (0.822 ± 0.242 g/cm2 vs 0.706 ± 0.178 g/cm2, respectively; P = 0.047). L1-L4 Z score (based on sex and height in Turkish children) was lower in patients with a body mass index (BMI) SDS value below -2 (moderately or severely malnourished) than those with a BMI SDS above -2 (0.02 ± 1.19 vs 1.4 ± 1.82, respectively; P = 0.014). A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.547; P < 0.01) was found between somatomedin-C (IGF-1) level and L1-L4 BMD (g/cm2) measurement. It was remarkable that low BMD was not identified in any patients using L1-L4 Z-score by height and L1-L4 Z-score by age of Turkish children. Nine (8.5%) patients were found to have low BMD using the United States (US) age- and sex-specific L1-L4 Z-score from the GE Healthcare Lunar iDXA system. Conclusions: Bone mineral density should be screened considering risk factors for suboptimal bone health in children with celiac disease. False "normal" BMD interpretations can be avoided by taking into account the model of the BMD measuring device and by using the device's normal ranges in case of inconsistency with the Turkish reference values.