Objective To investigate the prevalence of both calcium metabolism alterations and bone defects in children with celiac
disease (CD).
Study design We studied 54 untreated patients with CD (mean age, 7 years). We compared the serum concentration of
calcium, magnesium, 25(OH)vitamin D3, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) of patients with CD with those
of 60 healthy children. Children with CD with 2 laboratory alterations underwent DEXA examination, which was evaluated
after 6 months of a gluten-free diet (GFD).
Results The calcium and the 25(OH)vitamin D3 levels were lower in children with CD than in control subjects, and the PTH
level was higher in children with CD than in control subjects (P < .001). Hyperparathyroidism was found in 29 children with
CD. Twenty patients tested positive for 2 laboratory alterations, and 10 of them were osteopenic. After 6 months of GFD
calcium, 25(OH)vit.D3 and PTH levels normalized, with the improvement of bone mineral density.
Conclusions Calcium metabolism defects are common in untreated children with CD, and they returned to normal after
GFD. A detailed, time-consuming, and expensive study of bone metabolism is not necessary in children with CD shortly
exposed to gluten who follow the GFD.
