Early changes of body composition in asymptomatic celiac disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic patients in our study with an unequivocal diagnosis of celiac disease established by mucosal biopsy exhibited a modified body composition.
Mazure
R M
RM
Centro de Osteopatías Médicas, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vazquez
H
H
Gonzalez
D
D
Mautalen
C
C
Soifer
G
G
Cataldi
M
M
Mauriño
E
E
Niveloni
S
S
Siccadi
A M
AM
Flores
D
D
Pedreira
S
S
Boerr
L
L
Bai
J C
JC
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status
D005983:Glutens