Body composition in coeliac disease adolescents on a gluten-free diet: a longitudinal study.
Our aim was to evaluate body composition in a group of coeliac disease adolescents on a gluten-free diet and to re-examine them at the end of the adolescence spurt. We studied 48 patients (group 1A), 30 age-matched healthy controls (group 2A), 11 group 1A patients after 4 years (group 1B) and 11 adolescents who were age- and sex-matched with group 1B (group 2B). Weight, height, bone mineral content, fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM) and bone mineral density were evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. All parameters were lower in group 1A than in group 2A subjects ( p<0.001). After 4 years, the body compartments of group 1B coeliac disease patients normalised, except for weight and FFM which remained lower than in group 2B subjects ( p<0.005). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that adolescence is a period where some parameters of body composition can still be recovered.
Carbone
M C
MC
Institute of Paediatrics, University of La Sapienza Policlinico "Umberto I", Viale Regina Elena 324, I-00161, Rome, Italy.
Pitzalis
G
G
Ferri
M
M
Nenna
R
R
Thanasi
E
E
Andreoli
A
A
De Lorenzo
A
A
Bonamico
M
M
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005983:Glutens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
D005983:Glutens