Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density ofceliac children

We were interested in detecting the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) i n prepuberal and puberal celiac children after 24 months of supplementation with 1000 mg of calcium and 400 U of vitamin D daily. 19 celiac children ( 16 females, and 3 males, age 6 to 15 years) with good compliance to the glu ten free diet for at least two years, paired with 19 healthly children of t he same age and sex were studied. Celiac patients had mean calcium intakes of 739 mg per day, that increased to 1444 mg per day after nutritional supp lementation, with 84 and 74% of compliance during the first and second year s of supplementation. Celiac patients did not show significant changes in s tature and nutritional status during suppplementation. The whole group of c eliac subjects showed a significant increase in z score of WB-BMD and FN-BM D from the start and until 24 months of supplementation, compared to the co ntrols (WB-BMD: -0.24+/-0.40 and -0.80+/-0.59 vs 0.49+/-0.62 and 0.62+/-0.8 3. FN-BMD:-0.41+/-0.96 and 0.04+/-1.12 vs 0.58+/-1.29 and 0.36+/-1.15 respe ctively) Total group and pubertal celiac patients showed a significantly gr eater variation (delta z score) of hip BMD (FN-BMD 0.53+/-0.85 p <0.025 and 0.47+/-0.72 p<0.001) than controls ( -0.21+/-0.66 and -0.39+/-0.49 respect ively). Despite this increase in BMD, after 24 months of supplementation ce liac patients still had significantly lower values than the controls (WB -0 .08+/-0.59 p<0.05, FN 0.04+/- 1.12 p <0.03). Although calcium and vitamin D supplementation for 24 months had beneficial effects on the bone mass of c eliac patients in whole body (WB) and femoral. neck (FN) measurements, thes e did not reach the BMD of controls. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.