Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of low bone density. Vitamin deficiency appears to be only one factor increasing the risk.

Fractures and weak bones are common in patients with Crohn’s disease. So researchers recently set out to find out what happens when these patients take bone-protecting medicines early on.

Loss of bone mass with age is normal but can be dangerous if it occurs too quickly or prematurely. Low bone mass results in weak bones that have a higher chance of fracture.