Bones and IBD

[my little penguin]

I found this interesting on Vitamin D and crohn's a GI pediatric professor from arizona.

http://www.practicalgastro.com/pdf/September12/Ghishan.pdf

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect bone metabolism and are frequently associated with
decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fractures. Experimental models of IBD
and as well as data from pediatric and adult IBD patients do not provide a uniform answer whether
the changes in bone metabolism leading to decreased mineral density are the result of decreased bone
formation, increased bone desorption, or both. New studies continue to unravel a complex network
of interactions leading to the inflammation-associated loss of BMD, and may help direct treatment
of IBD toward more bone-sparing strategies. Nutritional interventions (dietary calcium and vitamin
D supplementation) are of limited efficacy in IBD patients. Therefore, appreciating the extent of the
problem and understanding the pathophysiology of osteopenia and osteoporosis in Crohn’s disease
and ulcerative colitis are critical for the correct choice of available treatments or the development
of new targeted therapies.

 

[jmckinley]

Makes sense...If Crohn's hampers absorption, even the supplements may not absorb. Still, I think it's worthwhile to take them. Maybe something is soaking in!

 

[my little penguin]

The key point is low levels of vitamin D Indicates uncontrolled inflammation and possible change in med could "fix" this inflammation which then cause the body to increase the amount of vitamin d it is willing to absorb way above that of a normal person.
Even meds like pred which cause bone loss reduce the inflammation and some other thing . I think it was phex or something that stops the absorption of vitamin d . Once the inflammation is gone so is the inhibitor "phex".

Anyways there is an iPod video on it on iTunesu which explains everything and makes the paper easier to read.

 

[Devynnsmom]

Very interesting. My 11 year old has had 3 fractures. 2 of them were long before diagnosis, but she had the symptoms that lead to her diagnosis.