Bone mineral density and body composition in patients with ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVE: Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in ulcerati ve colitis (UC) patients, but body composition (fat and lean mass) has neve r been concomitantly studied. We sought to investigate BMD and body composi tion in a group of UC outpatients with the following characteristics: age 1 8-60 yr (men) and 18-45 yr (women); no intestinal resection; no immunosuppr essive treatment; and regular menstruation. METHODS: Whole body and subregional BMD and body composition in 43 UC patie nts (21 men, 22 women; male mean age, 36.5 [21-57] yr; female mean age, 35. 3 [23-45] yr) and 121 healthy volunteers were studied by means of dual X-ra y photon absorptiometry. RESULTS: There were no differences in total and subregional BMD, or fat and lean mass between the patients and controls, except that the total and tru nk lean mass of the UC women was lower than that in the normal controls. No correlation was found between lifetime steroid intake and BMD. CONCLUSIONS: UC outpatients do not differ from normal subjects in terms of BMD and fat mass. Mild and moderate UC does not represent a risk factor for osteopenia. (Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:1491-1494. (C) 2000 by Am. Coll. o f Gastroenterology).