Bone mineral metabolism in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

The development of reliable techniques to measure bone densitometry and evolving effective drug treatment have kindled great interest in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in adults with inflammatory bowel disease. A number of studies have examined the prevalence of abnormal bone mineral metabolism in children and adolescents. Studies, conducted over the past decade, indicate a greater likelihood of clinically significant problems in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis. Corticosteroids have been proven to impair bone mineral status. It is increasingly clear that inflammation and other factors play a bigger role than malabsorbtion of minerals or vitamin D in most patients. As the use of the bisphonate class of drugs is limited in pediatric patients, there is a need to emphasize the role of diet and exercise in children and teenagers, particularly in those affected by inflammatory bowel disease.