Effect of gluten-free diet on bone mineral metabolism of celiac children

Studies on the effects of gluten-free diet (GFD) on bone mineral metabolism have given no univocal results in children and adults with celiac disease. Bone mineral metabolism was assessed in 23 celiac children, aged 1 to 12 years (mean 4.6) at moment of diagnosis (T-0) and after 12 months of GFD (T-12) without any vitamin D supplementation. At T-0, calcium, phosphates and alkaline phosphatase values were within the normal range in all but few subjects, but their respective average values significantly rose at T-12. The percentages of low values of bone mineral density and of osteocalcin at T-0 were significantly higher than those at T-12 and their respective average values significantly increased between T-0 and T-12 Circulating parathyroid hormone values were within the normal range in all patients at T-0 and T-12, with no significant difference in average values between T-0 and T-12. One year of GFD is sufficient-to obtain a complete restoration of bone mineral density even without vitamin D supplementation. The normal levels of parathyroid hormone and the reduced osteocalcin at diagnosis suggest that in young celiac children there is no important rise in bone remodeling. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.