Many people in the United States have never heard of celiac disease, though it may be more common than previously thought.
A recent, multicenter study led by the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore found that celiac disease is found in about one of every 150 people in the United States.
"We now believe that more than 1.5 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, making it twice as common as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and cystic fibrosis combined," said Dr. Alessio Fasano, the study's principal investigator and head of the division of pediatric gastroenterology at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children
Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that is triggered by the protein gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and other grains. People who have the disease should not eat foods that contain gluten. Those foods can set off a reaction in the intestines that cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms and prevent the proper absorption of food and nutrients, leading to serious health problems.
"Symptoms of celiac disease vary among individuals," said Fasano. "It can be a difficult disease to diagnose because symptoms can include anemia, osteoporosis, diarrhea, and constipation. Alternatively, there may not even be any symptoms."
He added, "We hope this study will change the perspective of the health care community and that physicians will be more likely to test their patients for celiac disease."
There is no cure for celiac disease and there are no medications to treat it. People with celiac disease can lead normal, healthy lives by following a gluten-free diet. This means avoiding all products derived from wheat, rye, barley, oats, and a few other lesser-known grains. "Gluten is poison to celiac patients. Avoiding gluten requires major lifestyle changes, and it impacts entire families," Fasano said.
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