Evaluation of densitometric bone-muscle relationships in Crohn's disease

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Do We Already Know Everything?

INTRODUCTION

There are many known risk factors for osteoporosis (OST) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), one of which is physical activity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The aim of the study is to assess the frequency and risk factors of OST among 232 patients with IBD compared to a group of 199 patients without IBD. The participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, laboratory tests, and completed a questionnaire about their physical activity.

RESULTS

It was found that 7.3% of IBD patients suffered from OST. Male gender, ulcerative colitis, extensive inflammation in the intestine, exacerbation of disease, rare physical activity, other forms of physical activity, past fractures, lower levels of osteocalcin, and higher levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen were risk factors for OST. As many as 70.6% of OST patients were rarely physically active.

CONCLUSIONS

OST is a common problem in IBD patients. OST risk factors differ significantly between the general population and those with IBD. Modifiable factors can be influenced by patients and by physicians. The key to OST prophylaxis may be regular physical activity, which should be recommended in clinical remission. It may also prove valuable to use markers of bone turnover in diagnostics, which may enable decisions regarding therapy.

Structured physical activity interventions as a complementary therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease - a scoping review and practical implications

BACKGROUND

Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) also suffer from a wide range of additional disorders, which may be caused by the disease, the side effect of the medication, or a lack of physical activity (PA). This results in reduced physical and psychological wellbeing. However, as known from other chronic diseases exercise could be utilized as supportive therapy for IBD patients. Main goals of this article are (a) collecting data of the effects structured physical activity interventions have on validated clinical parameters of IBD and health related symptoms, (b) developing activity recommendations for this clientele.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted, searching for relevant articles published until May 2018, which investigated the effects of structured exercise interventions in IBD patients. The heterogeneity of the outcomes and the interventions did not support a quantitative synthesis thus, a qualitative discussion of the studies is provided.

RESULTS

After reviewing 353 records, 13 eligible articles were identified. Five studies investigated aerobic exercise, three studies resistance exercise, three studies mind-body therapies and two studies yoga. The quality of the studies is mixed, and the duration is rather short for exercise interventions. Only few studies assessed validated IBD activity markers or inflammatory biomarkers. Nevertheless, the patients showed an increase in fitness, bone mineral density (BMD), quality of life and a decrease of IBD induced stress and anxiety. No severe adversial events were reported.

CONCLUSION

Even though the evidence is limited the application of exercise interventions in IBD patients can be assumed to be safe and beneficial for the patients' overall-health, and IBD specific physical and psychosocial symptoms. But there is still a high demand for more thoroughly conducted studies, focussing on important clinical outcome parameters.

Adult Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Physical Rehabilitation, and Structured Exercise

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ABCD: Anthropometry, Body Composition, and Crohn Disease

BACKGROUND

Young individuals with Crohn disease (CD) are at risk of poor bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced lean tissue mass (LTM). The importance of LTM for maintaining skeletal health, in both incident and established CD, is evidenced. We used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry assessment to identify areal BMD and LTM in individuals with CD.

METHODS

In 57 patients with CD (15F; 12.99-14.16 years) anthropometric, disease activity, bone age assessment, and total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements were acquired. A 4-step algorithm was used to assess simultaneous bone and body composition data: areal BMD and height z scores, and LTM for height and bone mineral content (BMC) for LTM z scores were calculated. Low z score cut-off values were defined as ≤1 standard deviations below the population means.

RESULTS

The CD cohort showed: low areal BMD z scores (P = 0.00); and low LTM for height (P = 0.00) according to defined cut-off values. BMC appeared to be adapting for the lower amount of LTM. Correcting for bone age eliminated the low areal BMD z scores. As expected, LTM for height and BMC for LTM z scores remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

We present a useful clinical algorithm to show significant LTM for height deficits, regardless of chronological or bone age, in this CD cohort. BMC seemed to adapt to the reduced LTM, indicating clinically "normal" areal BMD for age when considered for height. The ongoing deficits in LTM may, however, create chronic long-term consequences for bone health. Improving LTM should be a focus of clinical treatment in individuals with CD.

Risk factors for osteoporosis in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients exhibit higher risk for bone loss than the general population. The chronic inflammation causes a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD), which leads to osteopenia and osteoporosis. This article reviewed each risk factor for osteoporosis in IBD patients. Inflammation is one of the factors that contribute to osteoporosis in IBD patients, and the main system that is involved in bone loss is likely RANK/RANKL/osteoprotegerin. Smoking is a risk factor for bone loss and fractures, and many mechanisms have been proposed to explain this loss. Body composition also interferes in bone metabolism and increasing muscle mass may positively affect BMD. IBD patients frequently use corticosteroids, which stimulates osteoclastogenesis. IBD patients are also associated with vitamin D deficiency, which contributes to bone loss. However, infliximab therapy is associated with improvements in bone metabolism, but it is not clear whether the effects are because of inflammation improvement or infliximab use. Ulcerative colitis patients with proctocolectomy and ileal pouches and Crohn’s disease patients with ostomy are also at risk for bone loss, and these patients should be closely monitored.

Low muscle mass and sarcopenia: common and predictive of osteopenia in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Body composition is poorly studied in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Sarcopenia describes a loss of muscle mass and strength.

AIM

To assess the prevalence of low lean mass (LM), sarcopenia and associated morbidity in an adult IBD cohort.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were gathered on pre-menopausal 18- to 50-year-old patients with IBD. Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometric assessment and grip strength were performed. Low LM was defined as ≥1 s.d. below the population mean for appendicular skeletal muscle index [ASMI (kg)/height (m)²], and sarcopenia as both ASMI and grip strength ≥1 s.d. below population mean. Multivariate regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of 137 participants (median age 31 years, BMI 24.8 kg/m(2) ), 56% were male and 69% had Crohn's disease (CD). Low LM and sarcopenia were observed in 21% and 12% of patients, respectively, and osteopenia/osteoporosis in 38% of patients (mean lumbar spine t-score -0.3 ± s.d. 1.1). Grip strength predicted low LM and sarcopenia better than did body mass index (BMI) (OR 4.8 vs. OR 0.7 for low-LM, P < 0.05 both). Normal BMI was falsely reassuring in 72% and 76% of patients with low ASMI and sarcopenia, respectively. Low LM and sarcopenia (OR = 3.6, P = 0.03; OR = 6.3, P = 0.02; respectively), but not BMI nor fat mass, predicted osteopenia/osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Low lean mass and sarcopenia are common in patients with IBD, and important to recognise as they predict osteopenia/osteoporosis. Grip strength testing should be incorporated into routine clinical practice to detect low lean mass deficits, which may go unrecognised using BMI alone.

Exercise decreases risk of future active disease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission

BACKGROUND

Although exercise impacts quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, little is known about its role in disease activity. Among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission, we aimed to evaluate the association between exercise and subsequent active disease.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study using the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America Partners' internet-based cohort of individuals with self-reported inflammatory bowel disease. We identified participants in remission, defined as short Crohn's disease activity index <150 or simple clinical colitis activity index ≤2. The primary exposure was exercise status, measured using the validated Godin leisure-time activity index. The primary study outcome, assessed after 6 months, was active disease defined using the above disease activity index thresholds. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to describe the independent association between exercise and risk of active disease.

RESULTS

We identified 1308 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 549 with ulcerative or indeterminate colitis (UC/IC) in remission, of whom 227 (17.4%) with CD and 135 (24.6%) with UC/IC developed active disease after 6 months. Higher exercise level was associated with decreased risk of active disease for CD (adjusted risk ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.94) and UC/IC (adjusted risk ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.54-1.13).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CD in remission, those with higher exercise levels were significantly less likely to develop active disease at 6 months. In patients with UC/IC in remission, patients with higher exercise levels were less likely to develop active disease at 6 months; however this was not statistically significant.

Systematic review: body composition in adults with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data on body composition in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Alterations of fat and muscle may affect bone health, muscle performance, quality of life (QoL) and overall morbidity.

AIMS

To systematically review the literature on body composition in adults with IBD, and to discuss potential contributory factors and associations.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in July 2012 of OVID SP MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE and National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central Medline (Limitations: English, humans, from 1992). A total of 19 articles comparing body composition in patients with IBD with healthy age- and sex-matched control populations were included in the primary analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 631 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 295 with ulcerative colitis (UC), mean age 37.1 (s.d. ± 9.2) years; 485 (52%) female, were reported upon. Data were heterogeneous and methodology varied. Compared with controls, a statistically significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) was reported in 37% of CD and 20% of UC patients; reduced fat-free mass in 28% CD and 13% UC patients, and reduced fat mass in 31% CD and 13% UC patients. There was no consistent association between body composition and disease activity, duration, extent or therapies. BMI did not accurately predict body composition.

CONCLUSIONS

Current data, although heterogeneous, suggest that many patients with IBD are affected by aberrations in fat and lean mass, which may not be detected during routine clinical assessment. The prevalence and impact of altered body composition amongst this population warrant further investigation.

Bones in pediatric Crohn's disease: a review of fracture risk in children and adults

There is evidence to suggest that the inflammation associated with Crohn's disease (CD) impacts the bone health of patients, predisposing them to early onset osteoporosis and increasing their risk of fracture. Fractures have been documented in patients with CD, with a high proportion of these being found during young adulthood, which suggests that these patients are not simply fracturing as a result of the normal aging process but rather due to the presence of CD. In population terms, patients with CD have increased risk of fracture compared with the general population. Studies in children suggest that, irrespective of time on corticosteroid therapy, the underlying systemic inflammation associated with CD is an independent detrimental influence on the bone health of children with CD. This poses the question as to whether the onset of disease in childhood predisposes the individual to increased risk of future fractures later in life, as a result of decreased peak bone mass during the growing years. It is generally believed that dual energy x-ray absorptiometry-assessed areal bone mineral density is a good indicator of fracture risk; however, several studies have shown this may not be the case. New research, utilizing peripheral quantitative computed tomography, which provides a true volumetric assessment of bone, suggests altered bone geometry in patients with CD, which poses a structural threat by being more brittle and susceptible to damage accumulation.

Inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease, and bone

The article summarizes the current knowledge on the pathogenesis, clinical aspects and treatment of bone problems in the major inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and celiac disease. It presents the physiological relationship between intestine and bone as well as the alterations determined by disease-disrupted intestinal integrity. Two hypotheses about the pathogenetic mechanisms of bone metabolism derangements and bone loss are discussed: the classical one, that indicates calcium malabsorption as the main culprit, and the new one, that emphasizes the role of inflammation. The article summarizes the available epidemiological data about osteopenia/osteoporosis and fragility fractures in these chronic intestinal diseases and presents the state-of-the-art treatment options.

Prescription of physical exercise in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Physical exercise may be potentially beneficial for recovering physical condition and improving quality of life in populations suffering from chronic conditions, but little is known about its effects on patients suffering from Crohn's disease.

AIMS

To provide reasonable and conservative recommendations for exercise regimens that appear clinically safe and feasible in patients suffering from Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Relevant clinical studies about the effects of physical exercise on Crohn's disease, written in English language and carried out with human subjects were reviewed.

RESULTS

Few relevant clinical studies have evaluated the effects of an exercise intervention on patients experiencing Crohn's disease. There seem to be two main types of physical interventions that should be recommended: aerobic activity and muscular resistance training.

CONCLUSIONS

Some basic guidelines about how to prescribe physical exercise in Crohn's disease can be provided. However, more research is needed as few studies have been carried out so far.

Body composition and muscle strength as predictors of bone mineral density in Crohn's disease

Compromised skeletal status is a frequent finding in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), leading to increased fracture risk. Low body weight is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in CD, although the relative importance of its components, lean and fat mass, is unclear. Muscle strength is also a predictor of BMD in nondiseased populations; however, its association with bone in CD is unknown. We examined the independent effects of body composition and muscle strength on regional and whole-body BMD in a cohort of CD patients. Sixty men and women, aged 22-72 years, with disease duration of 13 +/- 7 years, underwent scanning of the spine, hip, forearm, and whole-body BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Lean tissue, appendicular muscle mass (AMM), and fat mass were derived by DXA and grip strength by dynamometry. Medical history, medication usage, clinical variables, and nutritional intake were obtained by questionnaire. Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 32 and 17%, respectively, with osteopenia more common at the hip and osteoporosis more common at the spine. In multiple regression analyses, AMM was an independent predictor of whole-body and regional BMD whereas lean mass was an independent predictor at the hip. Neither grip strength nor fat mass was independently associated with BMD. Of the components of body composition, muscle mass was strongly associated with regional and whole-body BMD. Preserving or augmenting muscle mass in this population may be a useful strategy to preserve BMD and thereby reduce fracture risk.

Exercise and inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) that affect 0.5% of Canadians. As yet, there is no known cure for either disease, and symptoms are treated with an array of medicines. The objective of the present review was to present the role of exercise and its impact on all facets of IBD. Exercise has been speculated to be protective against the onset of IBD, but the literature is inconsistent and weak. Preliminary studies reveal that exercise training may be beneficial to reduce stress and symptoms of IBD. Current research also recommends exercise to help counteract some IBD-specific complications by improving bone mineral density, immunological response, psychological health, weight loss and stress management ability. However, the literature advises that some patients with IBD may have limitations to the amount and intensity of exercise that they can perform. In summary, exercise may be beneficial to IBD patients, but further research is required to make a convincing conclusion regarding its role in the management of IBD and to help establish exercise regimens that can account for each IBD patient's unique presentation.

Improvement of lumbar bone mass after infliximab therapy in Crohn's disease patients

BACKGROUND

Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) have a high risk of developing osteoporosis, but the mechanisms underlying bone mass loss are unclear. Elevated proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bone resorption.

AIM

To assess whether suppression of TNFalpha with infliximab treatment has a beneficial effect on lumbar bone mass.

METHODS

Adult CD patients who had received infliximab treatment, and who underwent lumbar densitometric evaluation before and during treatment, were selected. Adult CD patients who had never received infliximab treatment were selected as controls. Information regarding age, sex, weight, duration of CD, use of glucocorticoids and bisphosphonates, and signs of disease activity between both densitometric measurements were collected.

RESULTS

Data from 45 patients were analyzed. The control group (n=30, mean [+/- SD] 26.7+/-9 years of age) had a significantly higher increase in body weight between both evaluations (6.26%+/-8%) than the infliximab group (n=15, 30.6+/-13 years), which had an increase of 0.3%+/-7.4%. There was a strong correlation between the final weight and lumbar bone mineral content (BMC) in both groups. The infliximab group had a significant increase in lumbar bone area (4.15%+/-6.6%), BMC (12.8%+/-13.6%) and bone mineral density (8.13%+/-7.7%) between both evaluations (interval 22.6+/-11 months) compared with the control group. The increase in BMC in patients who had received infliximab treatment was significant when compared with control patients who had received glucocorticoids (n=8) or had evidence of disease activity (n=13).

CONCLUSION

Infliximab therapy improved lumbar bone mass independent of nutritional status. This finding suggests that TNFalpha plays a role in bone loss in CD.