Serum Levels of Osteocalcin and Type I Procollagen in Children with Celiac Disease

BACKGROUND: Bone metabolism may be disturbed in children with celiac disease. METHODS: Two markers of bone turnover were used: the level of osteocalcin (BGP) and the level of carboxylterminal peptide of type I procollagen (PICP). BGP and PICP were measured by radioimmunoassays in 18 untreated children with celiac disease (mean age: 22.9 +/- 15.6 months) and in 15 control subjects (mean age 28.5 +/- 21 months). All the patients were rechecked after 1 month and again after 3 months from beginning of a gluten-free diet (GFD). RESULTS: Compared with controls at diagnosis our patients had significantly lower serum levels of BGP and PICP (p = 0.003 and p = 0.018 by Student's t test, respectively). These levels increased markedly during the 1st 3 months of GFD. CONCLUSIONS: The alteration in calcium phosphate homeostasis caused by celiac disease directly affects the synthesis of both components of the connective matrix of bone. Measurements of BGP and PICP provide a reliable and rapidly obtainable index of normalization of the processes of bone growth which can be achieved with a GFD.