In the book "Nutrition for Sport and Exercise", Jacqueline Berning and Suzanne Steen define bone mineral density as the amount of minerals---mostly hydroxyapatite---in grams per square centimeter of bone. Berning and Steen indicate that bone density can indicate the strength of a bone. Accordingly, bones with a low mineral density are prone to breaks and fractures. Berning and Steen aver that bone mineral density reduces when bone degeneration exceeds development.
Osteoporosis
In the book "Osteoporosis and the Osteoporosis of Rheumatic Diseases", Nancy Lane and Philip Sambrook define osteoporosis as meaning "porous bone" and a medical term referring to a condition constituting low bone mass and gradual bone deterioration resulting in frequent bone fractures and other medical complications. Subsequently, osteoporosis is a disease characterized almost entirely by a loss of bone mineral density. However, Lane and Sambrook affirm other conditions can result in weakened bones and thus fit the definition of osteoporosis independent of bone mineral density. Nonetheless, Lane and Sambrook state the World Health Organization concluded the best way to define osteoporosis is through bone density.
Crohn's Disease
Andrew Warner and Amy Barto, authors of the book "100 Questions and Answers about Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis," affirm that those afflicted with Crohn's disease as well as ulcerative colitis as a consequence of Crohn's disease are also likely to develop osteoporosis, the diseased characterized by a loss of bone mineral density. Warner and Barto posit that this could be because Crohn's disease hinders the body's absorption of calcium and vitamin D. Moreover, Warner and Barto aver that patients with ulcerative colitis may avoid eating because it results in discomfort, causing malnutrition, which can lead to osteoporosis.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
According to Kirsner, Sartor and William in the book "Kirsner's Inflammatory Bowel Diseases," the reasons why inflammatory bowel disease can result in the loss of bone mineral density are multifarious. Kirsner, Sartor and William indicate that reduced bone mineral density could derive from a combination of IBD-related conditions, including a weakened immune system, compromised intestinal absorption, changes in sex hormone blood levels, dietary changes, inflammation and side effects of treatments like glucocorticoids. Kirsner, Sartor and William also suggested that increased levels immunomodulatory proteins, or cytokines, that cause inflammation concurrent with decreased levels of cytokines that reduce inflammation either cause or exacerbate reductions in bone mineral density due to IBD.
References
- "Nutrition for Sport and Exercise"; Jacqueline R. Berning and Suzanne Nelson Steen; 2006
- "Kirsner's Inflammatory Bowel Diseases"; Joseph B. Kirsner, R. B. Sartor, and William J. Sandborn; 2004
- "Osteoporosis and the Osteoporosis of Rheumatic Diseases"; Nancy E. Lane and Philip Sambrook; 2006
- "100 Questions and Answers about Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis"; Andrew S. Warner and Amy E. Barto; 2009
