Bone mineral density in patients with recently diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease

Background & Aims: A high prevalence of osteoporosis is reported in inflamm atory bowel disease (IBD), and its pathogenesis is not completely resolved. We investigated whether bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with IBD at diagnosis is lower than in population controls, and whether BMD differs be tween patients with Crohn's disease and those with ulcerative colitis. Meth ods: In 68 patients and 68 age- and gender-matched population controls, BMD of total body, spine, and hip was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorpt iometry within 6 months after establishing the diagnosis, Determinants for low BMD were assessed. Results: There were no significant differences in BM D (g/cm(2)) between patients and controls, and no significant differences i n BMD between patients with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. M ultivariate regression analysis showed that duration of complaints longer t han 6 months before diagnosis (P = 0.041), age (P = 0.019), and body mass i ndex less than 20 kg/m(2) (P = 0.006) significantly correlated with low BMD , Conclusions: BMD in patients with recently diagnosed IBD was not signific antly decreased compared with population controls. Subsequent development o f osteoporosis in patients with IBD seems to be a phenomenon related to the disease process and/or the treatment modalities of IBD.