(www.neomundo.com.ar)-_Algunos_estudios_científicos_sugieren_que_si_la_enfermedad_celíaca_no_está_diagnosticada_y_tratada_quienes_la_padecen_tienen_mayores_riesgos_de_sufrir_fracturas.) A new research – published in the scientific journal ’ World Journal of Gastroenterology´ – strengthens the relationship between risks of fracture and celiac disease, disease characterized by hindering food absorption.

Disorder causes an inflammatory disorder of the intestinal mucosa that atrophy of the cells in the intestine villi; there that some of the symptoms of celiac disease are diarrhoea, anaemia and loss of weight.

In this disease “the causal agent of intestinal damage is the gliadin, a protein present in wheat gluten, barley, and rye.” The treatment involves the restriction of food containing them. “Its implementation enables the recovery of the intestinal mucosa and the reversal of symptoms,” explains July Bai, head of the Department of Medicine of the Hospital of Gastroenetrología ’ Dr. C. Bonorino Udaondo´de Buenos Aires, Argentina, and one of the authors of the study published in ’ World Journal of Gastroenterology´.

Journalist: could refer to the relationship between risks of fracture and celiac disease?

Bai: in the past two decades various scientific studies addressed the possible effect of celiac disease on bone density. Osteopenia – decrease in bone mineral density that can be a precursor condition of osteoporosis – and identified osteoporosis from measurements of bone density – in these research – have been in more than 50% of patients who have celiac disease. A meta-analysis of eight different studies published between the year 2000 and 2007, involving 20.995 patients and 97.777 people without the disease – concluded that patients with celiac disease have a 43% greater risk of suffering fractures.

Journalist: do handle what hypothesis to explain the effect of celiac disease in bone health?

Bai: the high risk of fractures is multifactorial and involves aspects such as the bone structural weakness, nutritional disorders of patients and immunological phenomena that occur in the disease

Journalist: could highlight some of the results of the study – published in World Journal of Gastroenterology – involving 265 patients and a group control of 530 people without the disease of ages ranging between 18 and 75 years?

Bai: the results obtained confirm the incidence increased fractures in patients who suffer from celiac disease and do not respect in full the gluten-free diet. After making a follow-up of patients – recruited at four medical centers of the city of Buenos Aires – we note that the realization of this diet reduced the risk of fractures in patients reaching comparable incidents not celiac population. This is the first study that offers evidence that this treatment is effective in reducing the risk of fractures in the patients gluten-free

Journalist: what are the most common fractures suffered by the patients according to their study and previous studies?

Bai: the so-called sprouts (forearm).

Journalist: why the gluten-free diet reduces the risk of fractures?

Bai: treatment cures the disease. It eliminates the symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss and anemia, among other complications. On the other hand, the agency manages to add nutrients and minerals in an appropriate manner which favors the good condition of the muscles that hold the bones, the same health of bones and reduces the immune and inflammatory process and thereby positively influencing loa active mineralization and remineralization of the bones.

Journalist: what other measures should take into account patients?

Bai: avoiding other risk factors that favour the development of osteoporosis. In this sense, it is important to have an appropriate calcium diet, exercise regularly, and live healthy without excesses of tobacco and alcohol as these two elements are toxic for skeletal. These, and other actions contribute to the development, strengthening and maintenance of bones.

Source: Agency CyTA – Instituto Leloir,

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