Early changes of body composition in asymptomatic celiac disease patients

Background/Aim : This is a study of patients with asymptomatic celiac disease. The aims of this study were : 1) To evaluate the nutritional status of asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed celiac disease, and 2) to compare these findings with those of untreated/symptomatic and treated patients. Material : We examined 41 patients with celiac disease divided into three groups : a) 8 asymptomatic (diagnosed in a study of first-degree relatives of probands), b) 20 untreated/symptomatic patients, and c) 13 treated patients. Nutrition of patients from groups A and B was assessed at the time of diagnosis. Methods : Nutritional status was evaluated by : 1) body composition (fat and lean mass) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and 2) anthropometric measurements. Results : Compared with sex and age matched controls (n = 153), asymptomatic patients presented a moderate but significant reduction of the fat compartment (-29% ; p < 0.001), but not of the lean-tissue mass (p = NS). Untreated/symptomatic patients showed a more severe depletion of fat (-46% ; p < 0.001) and lean mass (-9.0% ;p < 0.05) compared with healthy controls. Although fat mass of treated patients was significantly reduced with respect to controls (-24% ; p < 0.003), lean mass was not affected. The anthropometric measurements of fat showed a significant correlation with the evaluation by DEXA (multiple regression analysis r = 0.918). Conclusion : Asymptomatic patients in our study with an unequivocal diagnosis of celiac disease established by mucosal biopsy exhibited a modified body composition.