Coeliac and mandibular tori

[ceslater]

Hi, I was wondering if any other members have coeliac disease and mandibular tori. I have both, and a Google search led me here, to a 20 year old post where 2 group members also had both. Mandibular tori are bony growths on your lower jaw. They are uncommon, with only around 2.7% of the general population having them. They're believed to be caused by grinding teeth, high mineral content in the bones, and some vitamin deficiencies can be linked. My tori are big. I've recently been prescribed long-term calcium and vitamin D3 tablets. I already take D3 and K2. You need K2 to help calcium to be deposited correctly. I've requested a bone density scan. I'm 50 and have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease. My dad was diagnosed at 62 and was anaemic and had osteopena by then. My blood mineral levels are all healthy ... if anything, on the higher end of normal. My Anti-tTG level was 614 in October, so very high. I've just had a gastroscopy done ... waiting for the results. I've requested a bone density scan before I start with the calcium tablets because excess calcium can cause kidney stones, harden arteries and cause heart problems. I consume a huge amount of cheese and milk every day and always have done so I don't believe I'm deficient in calcium. I did a lot of high impact sport when I was younger which would have helped  my skeleton should be healthy. I believe I have tori because of vitamin D and K deficiency (I now take supplements) coupled with good amounts of existing calcium and high bone mineral levels. You just can't grow them unless there's a high amount of mineral (calcium) content in your jaw.

Anyone else have both celiac disease and tori? It's a rare combo but I'd like to know anyone's theory and if their bone density is normal. 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, @ceslater!

High or normal serum calcium levels mean very little when it comes to bone density sense the body will rob calcium from the bones in order to keep serum levels adequate. Celiac disease typically results in vitamin and mineral deficiencies because of damage done to the villous lining of the small bowel, the area of the intestinal track where all of our nutrition is absorbed. This damage reduces the surface area of the villi and therefore the efficiency of absorption. The results if your gastroscopy and your bone density scan will be telltale in this regard.

[ceslater]

That's the reason I've asked for a bone density check. I don't want to guess. My minerals levels were completely healthy in my October blood test, and higher than average amounts of calcium have to be present in the mandible in order to grow mandibular tori - the calcium has to already be in the bone matrix to be used to grow them. Hypercalcaemia is as damaging as hypocalcaemia, so I think it's important to check for any depletion in my bone density before starting on the tablets. And I don't want my tori getting even bigger - they're 1/2 cm off touching so they're already big. It's possible that some people with coeliac adjust by producing more metal-shifting enzymes to counter villi damage ... this may be the case with me as I'm not iron deficient. I think it's more that I'm lacking in vitamins. Lack of K2 would potentially assist tori growth. 

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum, @ceslater!

Have you had your thyroid and parathyroid glands checked?

Apparently there's a link between Celiac disease and hyperparathyroidism and  mandibular tori.  

Magnesium is important for keeping calcium in the bone in place and not depositing elsewhere.  

Vitamins and minerals important to bone maintenance include Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, selenium and magnesium, as well as calcium and Vitamin D.  

References:

Celiac disease and primary hyperparathyroidism: an infrequent association

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10851394/

Coeliac disease and primary hyperparathyroidism: an association?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2653933/

Hyperparathyroidism in dentistry: Issues and challenges!!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911858/

Short-term oral magnesium supplementation suppresses bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporotic women

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19488681/

 

[ceslater]

Thanks for the info. I haven't had that checked, but will enquire about it. I have a GP appt on Monday so will ask then. I'm pretty sure I have some vitamin and mineral deficiencies that had led to the tori, plus I have dry eyes (vit A), I've had bad palpitations and an irregular heartbeat, I have migraines, etc. and ehile not at all overweight, I've been pre-diabetic. I'm sure it's all related.

[knitty kitty]

@ceslater,

Ask your doctor for an Erythrocyte Transketolase test to check for Thiamine deficiency.  Although, you can have normal blood levels and still have a clinical thiamine deficiency.  

Palpitations, irregular heartbeat, and migraines are associated with Thiamine deficiency.  Weight loss (without trying) is another symptom.  Dry eyes are associated with Thiamine deficiency.  Diabetes is associated with Thiamine deficiency, too.  About 96% of people with diabetes have Thiamine deficiency.  

I had all of these symptoms of Thiamine deficiency.  My doctors didn't recognize Thiamine deficiency in a non-alcoholic.  Doctors are not required to take much nutritional education while at med school.  Still, check with your doctor about supplementing with B Complex, Vitamin D and magnesium in addition to Thiamine.  Benfotiamine really helped me.  

Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451766/

Thiamine and benfotiamine: Focus on their therapeutic potential

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10682628/

Benefits of Supplementing with B Complex

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316433/

Keep us posted on your progress!

[ceslater]

Many thanks, will do. I have Glucokinase MODY, which is a type of diabetes where glucose levels are mildly elevated. It doesn't require medication, and isn't an autoimmune disorder.  My dad also has mildly elevated glucose levels. It's thought that the glucose receptors in the pancreas have a slightly higher threshold before insulin is released. I'm not underweight ... ideal BMI.  The thiamine is worth checking out. 

[ceslater]

Update, I asked to see my blood test results and I'm not deficient in anything. My thiamin levels are normal. I've asked for a bone density scan. My iron haem levels in my red blood cells  are on the high end of normal, with iron serum levels right in the middle of the normal range.

My daughter's recent anti-tTG level is over 500. She's anaemic and has started a course of iron tablets.