Celiac disease

The CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network released data in 2007 that found about 1 in 150 (8-year-old) children in multiple areas of the United States had an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The number of diagnosed cases of autism is on the rise; the reason(s) for this is unclear.   Autism knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries.  Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not appear to affect the chance of occurrence.

Fortunately, dietary changes can make a significant change in people with autism.  Research is profound on the positive impact that a gluten and casein free diet can make on children with autism.  Gluten and/or casein free diets have been implemented to reduce autistic behavior, in addition to special education, since the early eighties {Autism, Vol. 3, No. 1, 45-65 (1999)}.  The scientific studies include Read More »

Holy donations!  Congratulations to Dr. Alessio Fasano and the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland Medical Center on receiving a $45 million private donation from the family of a grateful patient. 

The donation marks the largest single gift ever given to the university system and will be used to expand the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research and study other autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes. Read More »

Editor’s note:

In the following medical research study, healthy participants were enrolled to examine the effects of vitamin D on insulin production and use in the body. This research shows that:

1) Vitamin D plays an important role in insulin sensitivity in the body, and deficiency of vitamin D hampers production of insulin hormone by beta cells in the pancreas.

2) People with vitamin D deficiency are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by lack of insulin sensitivity in body tissues and inadequate production of insulin hormone in the pancreas. Read More »

Potassium is a mineral that is easily absorbed by the digestive tract. This micronutrient is essential for life because of the vital functions it performs in our bodies. Normal nerve conduction, muscle contraction, fluid balance, acid-alkali balance, blood pressure regulation, digestion, protein production, and metabolism require the action of potassium. For example, in metabolism potassium is required for the movement of sugars, amino acids, and other molecules into cells.

Potassium is an electrolyte that takes part in electrical conduction and chemical reactions in opposition to the electrolyte, sodium. In bodily fluids, potassium is the major cation (positively charged ion), while sodium is the major anion (negatively charged ion).

About 98% of the body’s potassium is contained within muscle cells, while Read More »

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is holding its annual free blood screening for celiac disease on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Celiac is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. A gluten-free diet is the only treatment. 

But most people with celiac don’t know it, and a child will visit an average of eight pediatricians before Read More »

On Sunday, October 10th, 2010, arena football kicker, Craig Pinto, will be kicking field goals for 12 straight hours, from 7:30am-7:30pm, with two goals in mind. First, he will be attempting to set a world record for most field goals kicked within that time frame, by having to make 500 field goals, from 40 yards out, but Craig’s main focus is to raise money and awareness for Celiac Disease.

KICKING 4 CELIAC was born out of the desire to show children and adults alike, that living with Celiac Disease will not Read More »

Editor’s note:  

In this study, researchers investigating the absorption of copper in untreated patients who had damage to their duodenum found anemia in 3 out of 10 of these patients that was due to copper deficiency.  They gave all the study subjects a solution of copper to drink that was equal to a daily dose then tested their blood level.  Read More »

This just in from the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness…

Whether you’re a dietitian ready for new information or a celiac in need of
quality gluten-free tips, this Webinar will put you in the know!

“Veggies & Beyond: Why Celiacs Need a Nutritionally Dense Diet”

Thursday, October 7 at 1 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Pacific Time

Join NFCA as GREAT Dietitian Melissa Marek, RD, from Axxya Systems Read More »

Today is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day in the United States. From the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness website:

September 13 has been dubbed “National Celiac Disease Awareness Day” in honor of the doctor who identified a link between celiac disease and diet. Dr. Samuel Gee, a leader in celiac disease research, was born on Sept. 13, 1839.

A Senate resolution calling for the commemoration gained unanimous approval on Aug. 3, 2010. In marking the awareness day, the Senate “recognizes that all people of the United States should become more informed and aware of celiac disease,” the resolution stated.

Below is the full text of the resoluation, found at OpenCongress.com. Read More »

Editor’s note: This important study demonstrated that short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in stool samples were abnormal in participating children with celiac disease, with and without treatment with gluten-free diet. SCFAs are healthy energy byproducts produced by microflora (beneficial organisms) in the colon during fermentation of undigested carbohydrates arriving from the small intestine. SCFAs nourish the colonocytes, cells that line the colon, to maintain normal function. They also help absorb salts and water from stool.  

“Gut Microflora Associated Characteristics in Children with Celiac Disease”

Tjellström B, et. al.

Microbiology and Tumour Biology Center, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Dec;100(12):2784-8.

Background and aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the Read More »