Bone Health with IBD

People with IBD are at greater risk of developing bone loss. Osteoporosis and osteopenia are two forms of bone loss that can occur and have the potential to lead to an increased risk of fracture. Osteopenia is the first sign of bone mineral density (BMD) loss and cannot be felt. The inside of the bones are like a honeycomb structure and osteopenia is the process of weakening this structure. There is no cure for osteopenia or osteoporosis but it is possible to slow down the effects of bone loss through strategies we will go over later. When bone loss is not slowed down, osteopenia progresses to osteoporosis and the structure of the bone slowly becomes more porous and prone to fracture and breaks. “Bernstein et al [14] demonstrated that the incidence of fracture in persons with IBD is 40% greater than the general population.” (1)Bone loss can happen due to inflammation, through the use of corticosteroids (like Prednisone), vitamin D deficiency, smoking, and surgery. When there is chronic inflammation there is an increase in cytokines. Cytokines can be both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. They are a protein in the body responsible for the growth and signaling of other cells in the body – immune cells […]