Regulators of Calcium Homeostasis and Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Crohn's Disease

Background: Several papers have reported on vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and other regulators of calcium metabolism in patients with Crohn's disease, but results have been conflicting. Bone mineral density (BMD) has been found to be reduced in several papers. A recent study from our laboratory suggested that the expected reduction in BMD disappears when the patients are compared with sex-, age-, and weight-matched healthy controls. The relationship between BMD and regulators of calcium homeostasis is not well established in patients with Crohn's disease. Methods: BMD and biochemical regulators of calcium metabolism were measured in 115 unselected patients with Crohn's disease, most of whom were in remission. Results: