It was previously thought that osteoporosis – a known complication of celiac disease – develops in celiac patients because they cannot properly absorb calcium and vitamin D from their diet. Both nutrients are essential for healthy bone development.
New research has revealed that people with celiac disease may develop osteoporosis because their immune system attacks their bone tissue.
It is the first time an autoimmune response – a condition whereby the body can attack itself – has been shown to cause damage to bones directly.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh studied a protein called osteoprotegerin (OPG) in people with celiac disease – a digestive condition that affects significantly more people than was previously thought.
In healthy people, OPG plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health by controlling the rate at which bone tissue is removed.
The latest research shows that 20 per cent of celiac patients produce antibodies that attack the OPG protein and stop it working properly. This results in rapid bone destruction and severe osteoporosis.
The team found that this new form of osteoporosis did not respond to calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The research is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Professor Stuart Ralston, of the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, who led the team, said: “This is a very exciting step forward. Not only have we discovered a new reason to explain why osteoporosis occurs in celiac disease, but we have also found that it responds very well to drugs that prevent bone tissue removal. Testing for these antibodies could make a real and important difference to the lives of people with celiac disease by alerting us to the risk of osteoporosis and helping us find the correct treatment for them.”
Source: University of Edinburgh
Of course The Health Gazette does not advocate the use of drugs unless absolutely essential. It is important for people with celiac (aka coeliac) disease to avoid gluten in their diets. The best way to preserve bone tissue is to deactivate the disease by strict gluten avoidance and to eat a healthy diet, including supplements, and to obtain regular weight-bearing exercise.
Osteoporosis is a terrible condition and definitely one to be avoided. It is important for everyone who knows they have gluten intollerance to carefully avoid gluten. This is not easy for people who eat processed foods and junk food. It is worth learning how gluten is masked in common foods you may eat and to find safe alternatives.
Tags: celiac, coeliac, gluten, osteoporosis