Breaking Bread - celiac disease

American Fitness, March, 2000

Americans love wheat. There's no doubt about it. Bagels and earn cheese, pasta, toast in the morning or maybe a waffle, crackers, cookies, pizza and pretzels--these are just a few of our favorite things. Therefore, it's a cruel joke that a large percentage of our population suffers from a disease whose hallmark is an intolerance to gluten: celiac disease. For them, the ingestion of gluten can damage intestinal walls and result in a number of debilitating effects, including the malabsorption of critical nutrients and severe diarrhea.

What's truly amazing is how many people suffer such serious symptoms, but they have no idea they have the disease. Dr. Alessio Fasano believes the reason is lack of diagnosis. "There is a misconception among the medical community in the United States that celiac disease is not prevalent here," says Dr. Fasano, director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Our preliminary research suggests that celiac disease may be rarely diagnosed in the United States instead of rarely occurring."

After looking at 2,000 blood samples from U.S. blood banks, Dr. Fasano estimates that approximately one in 300 are afflicted with the disease, not the one in 2,500 that is commonly accepted by the medical community. The European medical community acknowledges celiac disease as the most commonly inherited metabolic disorder.

To build on their initial research and further determine the prevalence of the disease in the United States, Dr. Fasano and Dr. Karoly Horvath at the Center for Celiac Research have launched a five-year, nationwide epidemiological study. Those who suspect they have this condition (or if a first- or second-degree relative has been diagnosed with celiac disease) and wish to participate in the study should contact the Center for Celiac Research. "Patients or physicians are welcome to contact the center and come in to have blood drawn or send a blood sample for screening," says Dr. Fasano.

For more information about the Study, call the center at (410) 7062715 or visit www.celiaccenter.org. For more information on diagnosing and living with celiac disease, call (877) CELIACS or visit www.celiacsolutions.com.