Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, that manifests as abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation, joint pain and kidney stones. The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, but it has been linked to a malfunction of the body's immune response. One common consequence of Crohn's disease is a decrease in bone mineral density that is treatable with calcium supplements.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory digestive disorder that typically affects the intestines but can manifest anywhere from the mouth to the rectum, according to PubMed Health In Crohn's disease, the intestinal wall becomes chronically inflamed, eventually leading to a thickening of the diseased walls. While Crohn's disease can affect individuals at any age, it typically occurs in people between the ages of 15 and 35. Individuals with a family history of the disease, smokers and people of Jewish ancestry are at a higher risk for contracting Crohn's disease, notes PubMed Health.
Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, 99 percent of which is stored in bones and teeth. Calcium also plays an important role in many metabolic functions, including vascular function, muscular contraction, neural transmission, intra-cellular signaling and the secretion of hormones. When dietary calcium is inadequate, the body may draw on bone mineral stores to satisfy metabolic demands. About 30 percent of the calcium in the foods you eat is absorbed by the body. Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption and plays an important role in the synthesis of bone tissue.
Crohn's Disease and Bone Mineral Density
Because Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disorder, patients are often given corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation. However, health care professionals at John's Hopkins Medical Center note that corticosteroids can accelerate bone loss and interfere with new bone formation. Crohn's patients may also experience poor absorption of calcium in the digestive tract. As a result, Crohn's sufferers are often diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis, which are bone-wasting diseases that often lead to increased risk of fractures, diminished height, altered posture and back pain.
Treatment
A 2005 study published in the journal "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology" found that supplementation of calcium and vitamin D provided the most effective treatment for bone loss associated with Crohn's disease. In their study, researchers observed an increase in bone mineral density of 3 to 4 percent per year. Researchers found no benefit in adding pharmaceutical drugs designed to increase bone density to the treatment, emphasizing that calcium and Vitamin D therapy alone should remain the primary treatment for bone loss in Crohn's patients.
References
- PubMed Health: Crohn's Disease
- "U.S. News and World Report": Health: Johns Hopkins Medicine: Crohn's Disease
- Medical News Today; Calcium and Vitamin D Most Effective for Treatment of Crohn's-Related Bone Loss; Kimberly Wise; February, 2005
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
