Vitamin D deficiency and bone mineral density in Crohn's disease

Background and objectives: Inadequate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD(3)) are deemed as a possible risk factor for osteoporosis in Crohn's disease (CD). Our aim is to determine the prevalence of inadequate serum levels of 25OHD(3) and its possible relationship with low bone mineral disease (BMD) in CD. Patients and methods: Sixty-four patients from the province of Granada (Spain) were enrolled. Serum levels of 25OHD(3) and intact parathyroid hormone were measured. BMD was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN). Results: Almost 60% of patients showed inadequate serum levels of 25OHD(3), whereas only about 16% showed levels considered as adequate (>= 30ng/mL). Z-score at FN was <= -2 in 4.7% of patients and 20.3% at LS. Regarding T-score, 4.7 and 46.9% of patients met criteria for osteoporosis and osteopenia at FN, respectively, whereas 6.25 and 42.2% did it at LS. respectively. Patients with inadequate serum levels of 25OHD(3) had non-significant lower BMD, both at the LS and the FN. Conclusions: Prevalence of inadequate serum levels of 25-(OH)D was high in our series. A no statistically-significant tendency towards low BMD in patients with inadequate serum levels of 25-(OH)D both at the FN and the LS was observed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.