Sa1304 Bone Mineral Density in Celiac Disease

Background/Aims: A gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only available long-life therapy for celiac disease (CD). Clinical presentation is diverse with few patients with underweight, while the great majority has either normal or overweight. In the general population, overweight causes increase in the waist circumference (WC), an anthropometric measurement associated to the cardiometabolic risk. However, this association has not been established in CD patients. Moreover, there are several evidences that suggest that these anthropometric changes are due to an unbalanced GFD as consequence of an inadequate food selection by patients. Our aims were double: (1) to determine body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis of CD, and (2) to assess changes in the BMI induced by treatment, and the WC and composition the food intake at least two-years after initiation of a GFD. Materials and methods: From July to November 2013, all adult patients with CD attending the ambulatory celiac disease clinic were enrolled in the study if they were on a GFD for at least 2 years. BMI (normal: 18.524.9 kg/m2) and WC (normal: women < 80 cm; men < 94 cm) were determined according to conventional measurements. The composition of food intake was estimated according to conventional formulas based on a food questionnaire by an expert nutritionist. Results: 56 consecutive patients (52 women; median age 48 years [range: 20-65]; time on a GFD: 5 years [range: 2-15]) were enrolled in the study. At diagnosis, 59% of patients had normal BMI, 25% had overweight or were obese, and 16% had underweight. Compared with findings at diagnosis, 93% of GFD treated CD patients had a significantly increased BMI (21 kg/m2 [range: 14-36] vs. 24 kg/m2 [range: 17-37], respectively; p