Severe osteopenia in symptom-free adults with a childhood diagnosis of coeliac disease

The frequency of osteopenia in symptom-free adults diagnosed with coeliac d isease during childhood and who resumed a normal diet during adolescence is unknown. Severe osteopenia (a bone mineral density below two standard devi ations of the mean) was found in up to a third of symptom-free young adults on a normal diet. These patients should not be thought to be disease-free but should receive long-term follow-up and most of them should be advised t o resume a gluten-free diet.