Objectives: Coeliac disease is frequently complicated by alterations of bone mass and mineral metabolism. In this condition the degree of malabsorption is a major determinant of bone loss. However, the role of lifestyle factors such as exposure to sunlight, physical activity and cigarette smoking, which have been demonstrated to influence bone mass and mineral metabolism in other conditions, has never been investigated in coeliac disease.
Design: We evaluated the impact of potential co-factors on bone homeostasis in coeliac disease by means of a multivariate analysis model.
Methods: Thirty-nine adult patients with untreated coeliac disease (18 symptomatic, 21 subclinical/silent) were studied. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at lumbar spine and femoral neck levels. Age at diagnosis, gender, duration of symptoms and severity of symptoms were recorded. Nutritional status, cigarette smoking habit, exposure to sunlight, and physical activity were evaluated. The impact of each independent variable on lumbar and femoral bone mineral density was evaluated by means of a multivariate analysis model.
Results: The severity of symptoms and nutritional status were significant sources of variability of both lumbar and femoral bone mineral density. Physical activity was a significant source of variability at femoral level, while gender was at lumbar level. Cigarette smoking habit and exposure to sunlight showed no significant effect on bone mineral density.
Conclusions: Gender, malnutrition, global severity of the disease and physical activity are important co-factors in the pathogenesis of bone loss in coeliac disease.