Gluten-Free Yellow Pages, created by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), is an interactive, searchable database listing of needed resources for patients and families living with celiac disease and managing a gluten-free diet. Launching spring, 2010. Please come back soon!
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A SPECTRUM? CELIAC DISEASE AND GLUTEN SENSITIVITY
Eliminating a common variable: Rule it out or rule it in Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity present themselves with a variety of symptoms, therefore a profile of symptoms is not a checklist that can be utilized to screen for Celiac Disease.
Conversely, Celiac Disease is a small side note on many checklists for other diseases. Statistics show that there is a 1/133 chance that anyone in the general population will have Celiac Disease and almost 1/3 will have detectable evidence of an immunologic response to gluten, i.e., Gluten Sensitivity.
With 30% of the general population at risk for symptoms caused by the ingestion of gluten or wheat, and up to 70% of people with diseases tightly linked to celiac disease like autoimmune disease, colitis, etc., it would seem logical that any symptoms checklist include Celiac Disease as something to rule in or rule out. If it is ruled in, it does not rule out other problems, but provides one avenue towards health. If it is ruled out, it only refines the search towards an effective solution. However tempting it would be to rely only on symptoms to screen for Celiac Disease, the long term effects of asymptomatic or latent gluten sensitivity (such as infertility, intestinal Cancer, dementia, and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) could possibly be prevented if individuals have within their hands information regarding their bodies unique reaction to gluten.
As with many of our body's systems, our digestive tract functions are on a spectrum of efficiency. Many tests are looking only at the ends of the spectrum, Celiac Disease or NO. That question limits our health, the question should be Gluten sensitivity or NO . Rule it in or Rule it out.
The preceding statement written in cooperation with Dr. Kenneth Fine from EnteroLab.
Celiac Disease (CD) is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.
Although an autoimmunity disease, Celiac Disease behaves like an allergy. Celiacs cannot tolerate a protein called gluten: found in wheat, rye, and barley. Although, deemed gluten free - the relationship between oats and CD is yet to be determined precisely. Many refrain from consuming oats, as well.
Because of a lack of awareness of the many symptoms or ways it can manifest itself, it takes an average of 11 years to have diagnosed in the US. Patients who suffer from it are often first diagnosed with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, stress, and lactose intolerance.
Approximately 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease (CD), however, only about 3% of these have been diagnosed. It has been considered, until recently, to be a rare disease in the United States. Studies, now suggest that its prevalence is much greater than previous estimates, possibly affecting as many as 3 million Americans, indicating that the disease is widely under-recognized.
Recent identification of the biological markers has led to the development of new diagnostic tests. These tests are identifying many individuals with non-classical gastrointestinal and other symptoms. Many people, although not testing positive within the deisgnated range for the antibodies, are still intolerant to gluten. They, too, must follow this special diet.
Some Facts about Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is twice as common as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and cystic fibrosis combined.
Approximately 50% of adult patients present with atypical symptoms.
Celiac disease meets the criteria for the World Health Organization for justifying general screening.
Physicians may use more widely known but less accurate serological testing that can result in missed diagnosis.
Up to 21% of intestinal biopsies, necessary for confirmation of celiac disease, are rejected by insurance companies, claiming that the cost of the testing isn’t justified by the symptoms.
Celiac disease has a 95 percent genetic predisposition.
Celiac disease is associated with or can lead to a number of other disorders including:
Infertility
Premature Births or a variety of pregnancy development issues
Reduced Bone Density (both Osteopenia and Osteoporosis)
Neurological Disorders including depression or bi-polar disorders
Malignancies such as Adenocarcinoma, non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and others
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