<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Thank you for the links and comments. Several dieticians responded – very
much appreciate your education. Overall there seems to be very little
research specific to celiac disease and bone mass in children. Since
children are in the process of accumulating bone, it is difficult to assess
what is normal development, what is a slowed process of bone growth and
what is actual bone loss. My Ped GI has recommended 500mg of calcium twice
a day and another bone scan in 6 months. I choose to give him Freeda’s
powdered calcium citrate since he is not able to swallow pills yet. My dad
is an orthopedic surgeon and has offered to read the scan as well. He
added that children’s bones are very flexible and therefore are not as
easily broken as adults (my concern was my son is getting involved in
sports). Summary of comments:
Helpful links:
http://coeliac.info/suppboard/viewtopic.php?t=253
http://coeliac.info/suppboard/viewtopic.php?t=196
http://coeliac.info/suppboard/viewtopic.php?t=398
Calcium Sources:
Green leafy vegetables
Dairy
OJ with added calcium
Powdered milk in soup, hot cereal , etc.
Almonds, almond flour, almond butter
Seasame butter (tahini)
Supplements
Calcium citrate is reported as easier for the body to absorb than calcium
carbonate. Response from Tums: “While we do not use gluten as a filler in
Tums, certain vendor-supplied ingredients may contain trace amounts of
gluten. Therefore, we cannot say with 100% certainty that Tums is gluten
free. Sincerely, Debbie Product Information Specialist GlaxoSmithKline
Consumer Healthcare”
Alternative products:
· Viactiv (calcium carbonate)
· Freeda’s calcium supplements (label says gf)
· Nutrition Now chewable
· Flinstone vitamins with extra calcium (carbonate)
· Yummi Bears calcium (800-500-Hero)
· Citrical (citrate. Very large pill to swallow)
Calcium needs vitamin D for maximum absorption. Most people get enough
vitamin D from sunlight. Weight bearing exercise is also important for
bone strength.
Dr/Dietician Advice
“My child sees a doctor at a children's hospital who did much research in
the field of bone density testing in children. She told me not to pay
attention to the results at all! She said they are extemely inaccurate in
children, and she made me promise never to give her bone-building
medication. She said it could actually be dangerous.”
“I have a 6 year old little girl with Celiac, also. Our Dr. said virtually
the same thing - not a lot of research is out there on bone density for
children so the readings don't mean too much at this point. The Dr., an
endocrinologist, did do a bone age test. That is when the child's hand is
x-rayed and they can tell present and future development based on the bones
in the hand and it is supposed to be fairly accurate. My husband and I are
in the 90% of height, but our daughter, based on this x-ray, will be at 40%
when she is full-grown. I would recommend a pediatric endocrinologist.
Ours sees her every 4-6 mos. and is constantly monitoring her growth as it
relates to bones, metabolism, hormones, thyroid gland - all the bells and
whistles we worry that we are missing out on when are children are
afflicted so young.”
“I manage the radiology office where my son and husband had the bone
density, I'm not sure where the Radiologist found the articles (on bone
density in children). Both my husband and son have celiac. We see an
Endocrinologist out of Columbia Presbyterian in NYC and I know there is
someone who specializes in bone density studies in children at St. Luke's
in NYC. We didn't feel the need to contact them since Brendan's bone
density increased so much with the diet change and viactiv.”
Children b/t ages 9-18 need about 4 servings of calcium-rich food/day.
Children under this need about 3. Below are examples of 1 serving size of
Foods rich in calcium: 1 Cup of milk (all kinds have same calcium content),
1 cup of yogurt (nonfat or low fat or regular), 1 1/2 oz of natural cheese
or 2 oz of processed cheese, 1 cup cottage cheese, pudding, 1/2 cup cooked
or 1 cup raw green leafy vegetables like broccoli,collards,spinach, calcium
fortified juices have about 300-400 mg in 1 cup -canned salmon or sardines
w/bone, soybean curd prepared w/calcium. Tips: add 1-2 teaspoons of fat
free milk powder to milk,yogurt,puddings, or cream soups to boost calcium,
add shredded cheese to casseroles, or any foods that your child will eat
cheese with!
Research notes: (www.cdrc.org.uk)
· Some indication even celiacs on a gf diet may have persistant
calcium malabsorption
· Osteomalacia (poorly mineralized bone) is a separate condition from
Osteoporois (bone loss). Can be inidicated from low calcium and elevated
alkaline phosphatase levels. Can anyone speak more specifically to this
condition?
Lindsay
Original Post:
My six year old just had a bone density screening. Results were 5
deviations from the mean. My Ped GI has told me that "norms" for young
children have not yet been well researched, however the 5 deviations
are
very low. She has encouraged me to up his calcium intake, have him
take 1-
2 tums per day and then recheck in one year.
Very much appreciate hearing from other parents that have experienced
same,
tips on what foods are high in calcium, and any research or other
information you may have come across.
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