Osteoporosis Wheat connection

[Guest guest]

http://www.mercola.com/2005/mar/19/osteoporosis_wheat.htm (excerpt follows)

" People who have the bone disease osteoporosis are more likely than the

general population to also have celiac disease, an intestinal disorder

caused by intolerance to wheat flour (gluten). Celiac disease renders

patients unable to absorb certain nutrients, including calcium and

vitamin D -- both essential to bone health -- leading to osteoporosis.

The good news? Researchers say that treating celiac disease with diet

can help patients regain bone health.

The study involved 840 people, 266 patients with osteoporosis and 547

without. Nine of the patients with osteoporosis also had celiac disease,

compared with only one of those without osteoporosis. Results suggested

that 3 percent to 4 percent of people with osteoporosis have it because

they have celiac disease.

*A Gluten-Free Diet Improves Osteoporosis in Celiac Patients*

When patients with celiac disease and osteoporosis were put on a

gluten-free diet for one year, they were able to improve not only

gastrointestinal symptoms but bone density as well, researchers said.

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to the gluten portion of wheat. It

inhibits the intestine's absorption of nutrients, which can lead to

malnutrition and gastrointestinal symptoms. Many patients experience

weight loss and diarrhea as a result, although some patients experience

only mild symptoms and therefore may not know they have the disease. The

condition is treated by removing gluten-containing grains from the diet.

In the study, 4.5 percent of people with osteoporosis also had celiac

disease, compared with only 0.2 percent of people with healthy bones.

Researchers say this occurrence was high enough to justify regularly

screening patients with osteoporosis for celiac disease, and if the

results come back positive to put them on a gluten-free diet to treat

both conditions. "