Increased fracture risk and osteoporosis not associated with vitamin D levels in Malaysian patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Bone mineral density and its influential factors in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVES

Bone loss is a common morbidity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement is recommended for IBD patients at a high risk of osteoporosis. However, there is a lack of evidence in the need of BMD measurement in patients who are young at the first disease onset. In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of low BMD in patients with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease (CD) at 20-50 years of age and the potential risk factors.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Medical records of the patients were reviewed and their demographics, clinical characteristics and laboratory test results were collected. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan was performed for BMD measurements; low BMD was defined as Z-score or T-score <-1.0 standard deviation (SD). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors for low BMD.

RESULTS

A total of 221 patients with CD were included; osteopenia and osteoporosis were identified in 23.1% and 8.6%, and 39.4% and 7.2% of the patients using Z-score and T-score, respectively. Female gender and a higher BMI at diagnosis were protective factors for low BMD.

CONCLUSIONS

Low BMD is common in patients with newly diagnosed CD aged 20-50 years. Female gender and a higher BMI at diagnosis might protect CD patients from bone loss. Therefore, BMD measurement and early intervention with calcium and vitamin D are recommended for these patients.

Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in relation to bone health in Croatian women

In N = 400 women (46.9 ± 15.5 years), the prevalence of severe (< 25 nmol/l) and mild (≥ 25 and < 50 nmol/l) 25(OH)D deficiency was 7 and 32.2%, respectively, while 60.8% women had adequate status. Serum iPTH increased (> 37.0 pg/ml) when 25(OH)D was < 46.9 nmol/l. BMD was not significantly lower in the participants with iPTH > 37.0 pg/ml.

PURPOSE

Bone mineral density (BMD) is affected by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH). Our objective was to analyze the association between serum 25(OH)D and iPTH and their mutual regulatory influence on BMD in women with 25(OH)D deficiency. We also attempted to establish a threshold for the serum 25(OH)D below which serum iPTH increases.

METHODS

The participants were 400 generally healthy women (46.9 ± 15.5 years) recruited from local communities. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and serum 25(OH)D, iPTH, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and C-telopeptide (CTX) were analyzed from the fasting blood samples. Multivariate regression models were used to investigate the relationships among serum 25(OH)D, iPTH, and BMD.

RESULTS

Serum iPTH increased when 25(OH)D concentrations were below 46.9 nmol/l. Severe 25(OH)D deficiency (< 25 nmol/l) was found in 7% of the participants and was associated with significantly higher iPTH compared to participants with serum 25(OH)D ≥ 25 nmol/l. BMD was negatively associated with iPTH only in the group with severe 25(OH)D deficiency. However, BMD was not significantly lower in the participants with severe 25(OH)D deficiency compared to those with mild deficiency or with adequate status.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that threshold level of 25(OH)D below which iPTH started to rise was 46.9 nmol/l. There was no negative impact of iPTH on BMD or bone turnover markers in women with severe 25(OH)D deficiency. This might be due to the relatively young age of our participants in whom the unfavorable effect of 25(OH)D deficiency on bone might have not yet appeared.

Osteoporosis associated vertebral fractures-Health economic implications

Introduction

Osteoporosis-associated vertebral fractures represent an increasing clinical and public health problem, one with important socioeconomic effects within western countries.

The purpose of this study was to analyse demographic, medical, gender and socioeconomic aspects of osteoporotic vertebral fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine over a period of at least 10-years.

Material and methods

Included for analysis were 694 patients who had suffered a vertebral fracture due to primary or secondary osteoporosis, and who were treated at our Level-I trauma center between 2000 and 2013. Collected data included demographic, medical and socioeconomic aspects.

Results

Clinical results revealed that 669 patients (96%) were treated conservatively. The remaining 25 patients (4%) underwent surgical therapy: 4 were treated with vertebroplasty, 15 with kyphoplasty and 6 patients with posterior stabilization. The mean age was 75.6 years (range: 50–98), with the vast majority of patients being female (n = 515). A statistically significant demographic difference (i.e., increase) in fractures was observed between the age groups 60–69 and 70–79 (p = 0.041). Concerning socioeconomic aspects, statistical analysis showed that the number of sick leaves and the need for professional domestic help was higher in female patients. Concerning treatment costs, statistical analysis did not reveal any significant differences between female and male patients.

Conclusion

Significant gender differences–to the detriment of the female population–could be demonstrated within this study. A regrettably low rate of adequate treatment after diagnosis of osteoporosis and its associated fractures–specifically relating to primary and secondary prevention–could also be identified. To prospectively avoid complications and consequential cost increases, more awareness of the necessity for prevention, early diagnosis and adequate treatment of osteoporosis and its related fractures should be considered.

Prevalence and risk factors for low bone mineral density in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been associated with increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Several risk factors contribute to this; however, studies evaluating their association have conflicting results.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study with prospective enrollment of adult ulcerative colitis patients attending the Gastroenterology Department of Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur Rajasthan between June 2015 and December 2015. Demographic data including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, type of disease, prior steroid use and vitamin D levels were recorded and compared with bone mineral density (BMD) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

RESULTS

Of the 55 patients enrolled, 41 (74.5%) had abnormal BMD; out of this, 19 (34.5%) had osteopenia and 22 (40.0%) had osteoporosis. In univariate analysis, disease duration and history of steroid use were observed as statistically significant. However, on multivariate analysis, only duration of disease was found to be a significant independent predictor of low BMD. Age, gender, BMI, low levels of vitamin D and steroid usage were not associated with low BMD.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of low BMD is common in Indian ulcerative colitis patients. Prolonged disease duration appears to be the major risk factor.

Vitamin D status in relation to Crohn's disease: Meta-analysis of observational studies

OBJECTIVES

Inconsistent findings have been published regarding vitamin D status among patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and the association with disease severity. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis evaluating serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and 1,25 dehydroxyvitamin D among CD patients compared with healthy and non-healthy controls, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, and the association with disease.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Google Scholar up to March 2015 for observational studies assessing serum vitamin D levels in CD patients. A total of 63 studies were included in the following four meta-analyses: 1) a meta-analysis on the mean difference of 25(OH)D levels in CD patients compared with healthy (number of studies = 27) and non-healthy (n = 25) controls; 2) a meta-analysis on the mean difference of 1,25(OH)2 D3 levels in CD patients compared with healthy (n = 7) and non-healthy (n = 8) controls; 3) a meta-analysis on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (n = 34); 4) a meta-analysis on the correlation coefficients between vitamin D status severity of CD (n = 6). Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to discover possible sources of between-study heterogeneity.

RESULTS

It was found that CD patients had lower levels of 25(OH)D compared with healthy (-3.99 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.91 to -2.08) but not non-healthy controls (-1.07 ng/mL; 95% CI: -2.84 to 0.70). There was also no significant mean difference for 1,25(OH)2 D3 for both healthy and non-healthy controls. Meta-analysis on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency showed an overall prevalence of 57.7% (95% CI: 0.502-0.649). An inverse association was observed between serum vitamin D and severity of CD (-0.36; 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.24). Meta-regression showed that mean levels of 25(OH)D were decreased 0.09 for each unit change of latitude among CD patients compared with healthy controls (B = -0.09, P = 0.004, I(2) residual = 86.08%).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that patients with Crohn's disease had lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations compared with their healthy counterparts, and more than half of them have hypovitaminosis D. Moreover, there was an inverse correlation between circulating 25(OH)D concentrations and severity of Crohn's disease.

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.

Vitamin D deficiency and corticosteroid use are risk factors for low bone mineral density in inflammatory bowel disease patients

BACKGROUND

As several factors can contribute to low bone mineral density (BMD), we investigated the role of vitamin D in low BMD while controlling for other risk factors in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study between 2008 and 2012 in adult IBD patients. Demographic data including age, gender, ethnicity, BMI, along with disease type and location, vitamin D levels, prior corticosteroid use, and anti-TNF use were recorded and evaluated with DEXA results.

RESULTS

A total of 166 patients [105 Crohn's disease (CD), 61 ulcerative colitis (UC)] qualified for the study. Low BMD was found in 40%, twice as frequently in CD than in UC (p = 0.048). Higher prevalence of low BMD was associated with those of male gender (p = 0.05), Asian ethnicity (p = 0.02), and history of corticosteroid use (p = 0.001). Age, body mass index, or disease location did not increase the risk of low BMD. The overall prevalence of low vitamin D was 60%, with insufficiency (25-hydroxy levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL) found in 37% and deficiency (levels <20 ng/mL) found in 23% of the patients. Vitamin D insufficient and deficient patients were two times (p = 0.049) and almost 3 times (p = 0.02) as likely to have low BMD, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Low vitamin D, male gender, Asian ethnicity, CD, and corticosteroid use significantly increased the risk of having low BMD, while age and disease location did not affect BMD in our IBD population. It remains important to evaluate for vitamin D nutritional deficiency and limit corticosteroid use to help prevent low BMD in IBD patients.

Vitamin D status and its relationship with body composition, bone mineral density and fracture risk in urban central south Chinese postmenopausal women

AIMS

This study was designed to assess vitamin D (25(OH)D) status and its relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, which was determined using the FRAX algorithm, among postmenopausal central south Chinese women, and to identify the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 578 healthy postmenopausal central south Chinese women. Fat mass and BMD at lumbar spine (L1-L4), femur neck and total hip were measured with dual X-ray absorptiometry. Serum levels of 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone and creatinine were measured. The 10-year probabilities of hip and major osteoporotic fracture were calculated by the FRAX model.

RESULTS

Approximately 72.1% women were vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D <50 nmol/l). Serum 25(OH)D levels did not correlate with body mass index (BMI), fat mass and weight. They positively correlated with all BMDs (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with both 10-year fracture probabilities (p < 0.05). BMI ≤19 and age ≥65 years were risk factors for osteoporosis at all sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent among postmenopausal central south Chinese women. Serum 25(OH)D levels were correlated with all BMDs and negatively correlated with both 10-year fracture probabilities.