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19 November 2010

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Celiac Disease

Becoming more Common

 

Once seen as a fairly rare ailment affecting only about one in 500 people, celiac disease is now

4.5 times more common than it was 50 years ago

 

A new study published in the July 2009 issue of the medical journal Gastroenterology says the digestive disorder is becoming more common.

 

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

The Canadian Celiac Association says that, “Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. This results in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.”

 

All foods containing wheat cause problems for people with celiac disease.

 

Symptoms that are common with the illness include: weight loss, fatigue, anemia, cramps, bloating, chronic diarrhea, as well as irritability.

 

Many of these symptoms occur in other disorders that are more common than celiac and this can lead to misdiagnosis. Fortunately, a simple blood screening test is now available to make diagnosis more accurate.

 

Because people with celiac disease (CD) suffer from a lack of nutrients they are risk of developing other ailments such as osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

 

Avoiding Gluten as Therapy

There is no cure for celiac disease, although strictly following a gluten-free diet is an effective treatment. That means avoiding all foods that contain wheat, rye, barley, and oats.

 

However gluten may turn up in a number of surprising places such as baked beans, imitation crab, prepared soups, salad dressings, potato chips, or yogurt.

 

Fortunately, there are several food processing companies that specialize in making gluten-free products. There are also comprehensive diet guides available at the Canadian Celiac Association.

 

Blood Sample Studies Show Increased Prevalence of Celiac Disease

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have been looking at blood samples taken during two different time periods.

 

“This study included 9,133 healthy young adults at Warren Air Force Base (sera were collected between 1948 and 1954) and 12,768 gender-matched subjects from two recent cohorts from Olmsted County, Minnesota.”

 

Those who gave blood samples decades ago were given a medical follow-up as part of the study.

 

What the researchers found was that among the air force personnel in the first time period 0.2% had undiagnosed celiac disease. Within the two later groups the incidence of undiagnosed celiac disease was 0.8% and 0.9%.

 

The authors of the study concluded that, “During 45 years of follow-up, undiagnosed CD was associated with a nearly four-fold increased risk of death. The prevalence of undiagnosed CD seems to have increased dramatically in the United States during the past 50 years.”

 

Environmental Cause for Celiac Disease Suspected

Reporting on the study in The Globe and Mail (July 2009) Paul Taylor quotes Dr. Joseph Murray, who led the research. Dr. Murray “speculated that modern food production and processing could be to blame…But, he is quick to add, ‘it could be something entirely different.’ ”

 

Image credit

Alvimann

 

Sources

“Increased Prevalence and Mortality of Undiagnosed Celiac Disease.” Alberto Rubio et al, Gastroenterology, July 2009.

“Mayo Clinic Study Finds Celiac Disease Four Times more Common than in the 1950s.” Mayo Clinic, July 1, 2009.

“Celiac Disease 4 Times as Common.” Paul Taylor, Globe and Mail, July 3, 2009.

 

© Canada and the World, July 2010

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Incidence of celiac disease in North America: 1 in 133

 

In people with close relatives who have it: 1 in 22

 

Average time for a person with symptoms to be diagnosed with celiac disease: four years

 

Celiac disease is more common among Caucasians than other races.

 

 

University of Chicago, Celiac Disease Centre