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Published on: January 29, 2018
Bone mineral density, vitamin D, and disease activity in children newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease
Wael El-Matary1, Sheena Sikora, Donald Spady
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Eaton Road, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK. wael.el-matary@alderhey.nhs.uk
Insights
Children newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have lower vitamin D levels but not necessarily lower bone mineral density (BMD). Disease severity did not correlate with vitamin D or BMD in this pediatric IBD cohort.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Bone Metabolism
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly diagnosed in children.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) and vitamin D status are crucial for pediatric bone health.
- The relationship between IBD, disease activity, vitamin D, and BMD in newly diagnosed children requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and BMD in children with newly diagnosed IBD.
- To examine the correlation between these parameters and disease activity in pediatric IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 60 newly diagnosed pediatric IBD patients (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and 56 healthy controls.
- Measurement of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D at diagnosis.
- Assessment of lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) z scores and disease activity indices.
Main Results:
- Children with newly diagnosed IBD exhibited significantly lower serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels compared to controls.
- Patients with Crohn's disease had significantly lower BMD than those with ulcerative colitis.
- No significant correlation was found between vitamin D levels, BMD z scores, and disease activity indices in either CD or UC.
Conclusions:
- Newly diagnosed pediatric IBD patients present with lower serum vitamin D levels.
- Vitamin D levels and BMD do not appear to be influenced by disease severity in this cohort.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings in pediatric IBD.
Background And Aim:
The aim of this study was to examine bone mineral density and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D in relation to disease activity in children newly diagnosed with IBD.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional analytic study, 60 children newly diagnosed with IBD (39 with Crohn's disease [CD], mean age 12.2 ± 2.1 years; and 21 with ulcerative colitis [UC], mean age 12.4 ± 3.7 years) were recruited. Fifty-six age- and sex-matched children without IBD were invited as controls (mean age 11.3 ± 4.2 years). Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D for patients and controls was measured at diagnosis. Patients' adjusted lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) z scores were measured. Activity indices for both CD and UC were calculated.
Results:
The serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was significantly lower in children with IBD compared to the control group (P = 0.04). BMD was significantly lower in patients with CD compared to those with UC (P = 0.039). There was no correlation between vitamin D levels, BMD z scores or disease activity indices for both CD and UC.
Conclusions:
Serum vitamin D level is significantly lower in children with newly diagnosed IBD compared to those without. However, vitamin D levels are not affected by disease severity. It seems that BMD status may not be affected by vitamin D levels or disease severity in this cohort. Larger prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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