Osteopenia (i.e. osteoporosis/bone loss) in Crohn's patients is often associated with the
heavy use of steroids. This article discusses a Canadian study that looked at just that
and found that steroid use is not the culprit.
"Patients with Crohn's disease have a reduced bone mineral density, which is due
not simply to steroids, but is significantly correlated with disease duration." He
also adds that "the chronic inflammatory process and the nature of the disease
itself are important with respect to loss of bone mineral density and need
further exploration. " Read More...