Osteodensitometry in irritable bowel syndrome

Introduction: Previous studies have found a low grade inflammation maintained by cytokine producing T-cells and mast cells in the bowel mucosa of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The level of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 is higher in IBS than in healthy controls. These cytokines activate osteoclasts and thus stimulate bone resorption through the RANK/RANK-L/OPG system, as it has been observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). Our aim was to investigate if the bone mineral density of IBS patients approaches that of IBD patients and if it differs from…