10 Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Symptom #6: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
Osteopenia occurs when the bone mineral density is lower compared to normal. It is a precursor to osteoporosis. Once osteopenia becomes more advanced, it turns into osteoporosis, which is a condition where the bones are less dense and have a tendency to fracture. Both osteopenia and osteoporosis are complications of untreated celiac disease.
This occurs because the small intestine, which is responsible for absorbing nutrients such as calcium, is no longer working efficiently. Since calcium is vital in building and maintaining bones, patients with celiac disease often have bones that are less dense as they are deficient in calcium.
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