Metabolic Bone Disease in Patients with Malabsorption

Abstract

Chronic inflammation and malabsorption in gastrointestinal disease can cause bone metabolism alterations and bone mineral loss in children and adults. Gastrointestinal disease is often forgotten as a cause of osteoporosis, osteopenia, or osteomalacia. The etiology of pathologic bone alterations in gastrointestinal disease is multifactorial. Bone alterations were thought to result simply from intestinal malabsorption, but a more complex interaction between cytokines and local/systemic factors influencing bone formation and resorption is envisaged. This review provides an updated discussion on bone alterations in patients with malabsorption due to celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.