Skip to content

Shocking Facts About Celiac Disease

celiac awareness month
Photo credit: Celiac Disease Awareness Month

May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month, so it seems appropriate to share some medical facts about this autoimmune disease that just might shock you.

These facts come from Dr. Tom O’Bryan who is is a nationally recognized speaker and workshop leader specializing in gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.  Dr. O’Bryan’s specialty is in teaching the many manifestations of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease as they occur inside and outside of the

Gluten Sensitivity

gluten sensitivity

Gluten Sensitivity is an umbrella term that refers to any and all problematic health responses to gluten in any body system. We first defined gluten sensitivity in our ground breaking text, Recognizing Celiac Disease first published in 2006.  Gluten Sensitivity includes celiac disease, gluten allergy, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity reactions.1 

Under Pathophysiology in Recognizing Celiac Disease, we confidently published the fact, against the opinion of some noted specialists but in accord with others, that “non-celiac gluten sensitivity” exists as a condition distinct from celiac disease and which must be distinguished from celiac disease for proper treatment of both.

Today, although there lacks a general agreement for the term “gluten sensitivity,” the medical community has accepted the reality of non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

As a result, researchers are calling this condition the “new frontier.” As Dr. Lundin has stated, “We are still challenged with finding stricter clinical criteria for the condition, developing a usable clinical approach for gluten challenge in these individuals, and understanding the pathogenesis of the condition.”2

  • Celiac disease is characterized by a specific immune reaction in the small intestinal lining that is both an innate response (inflammatory) and a humoral response (antibody production) to peptides of gluten that leads to malabsorption of nutrients and increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut).3 The humoral antibody response involves the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Only persons who have inherited this immune response are at risk to develop celiac disease. Celiac disease results in malabsorption and any of a great number of health problems that can develop from the toxic action of gluten peptides entering the body through a leaky gut.
  • Gluten allergies are immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated immune responses where hives, asthma, and similar reactions develop. Allergy involves the production of specific antibodies to specific antigens, which would be a peptide of gluten. For example, wheat allergy commonly targets gliadin as the antigen. IgE immune responses appear to be inherited.
  • Non-celiac gluten sensitivity can be diagnosed in those patients with gluten intolerance who do not develop antibodies that are typical either of celiac disease or of wheat allergy and who do not suffer from lesions in the duodenal mucosa characteristic of celiac disease.4 Symptoms that occur soon after gluten ingestion rapidly improve after gluten withdrawal and relapse in a few hours or days after gluten challenge.5

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is an innate immune response producing mild inflammation (Marsh I class) of the small intestine lining to gluten when present in the diet but negative to production of the anti-EMA, and anti-tTG immunoglobulins (humoral response), which are autoantibodies mounted in celiac disease.

Sources:
  1. Libonati, Cleo. Recognizing Celiac Disease, p. IX [↩]
  2. Lundin KE. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity – why worry? BMC Med. 2014 May 23;12:86. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-12-86. [↩]
  3. Brottveit M, Beitnes AC, Tollefsen S, Bratlie JE, Jahnsen FL, Johansen FE, Sollid LM, Lundin KE. Mucosal cytokine response after short-term gluten challenge in celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013 May;108(5):842-50. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2013.91. [↩]
  4. Czaja-Bulsa G. Non coeliac gluten sensitivity – A new disease with gluten intolerance. Clin Nutr. 2014 Aug 29. pii: S0261-5614(14)00218-0. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.08.012. [↩]
  5. Caio G, Volta U, Tovoli F, De Giorgio R. Effect of gluten free diet on immune response to gliadin in patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. BMC Gastroenterol. 2014 Feb 13;14:26. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-14-26. [↩]

Actors, Athletes, News Anchors, and More Follow the Gluten-free Diet

JenniferAnistonWhether people are eating gluten free for medical reasons or non-medical reasons, the plain fact is more and more people are following the examples set by celebrities and athletes who attribute eating gluten free to losing weight and for its ability to increase athletic performance. Whatever the reason, celebrities, athletes, reporters, etc. continue to follow a gluten-free diet, so it is time to update the lists I started back in 2010.

I think it is important to separate out those who are eating gluten free for medical from those who eat gluten free for or non-medical reasons, so there are five lists below: Celebrities with Celiac Disease, Celebrities with non-celiac gluten sensitivity/wheat intolerance, Celebrities who eat gluten free by choice, Athletes with Celiac Disease, and Athletes who eat gluten free by choice. These lists were compiled using multiple sources.

Gaining Closure Through a Letter: The Beautiful Side of Healing

This has been a post/letter which has been a work in progress for two years. For the past two years, I have had the new years resolution to send a letter to the 22 doctors who I had seen throughout the five years of misdiagnosis. After finally receiving a great report from my GI yesterday, it was time to put the finishing touches on this piece. It is something I felt I needed to do.

Not only to gain closure for myself, but as a way to spread awareness about gluten-sensitivity. The doctors need to know what the other side of the rainbow looks like, after what was a treacherous and long storm. 

Diagnosis and Testing

gluten sensitivity celiac disease diagnosisHow Is Celiac Disease Diagnosed?

Diagnosing Celiac Disease can be difficult and frustrating for both the patient and the doctor because each person is affected individually. With no definite set of symptoms to cause suspicion, the single most important step in getting a diagnosis of Celiac Disease is to recognize its myriad features.1

People who have any of the following situations should be evaluated for Celiac Disease:

  • Symptoms indicating nutritional deficiencies.
  • Unexplained digestive problems such as IBS, acid reflux, diarrhea/constipation, bloating, chronic abdominal pain.
  • Chronic skin disorders, especially when itchy.
  • Unexplained visual problems including poor night vision, dry eye, or cataracts.
  • An auto-immune disease like Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus or Sjogrens Syndrome.
  • A chronic disease like arthritis, migraine headache, or polyneuritis.
  • A relative who has Celiac Disease.
  • A relative who has Dermatitis Herpetiformis.
  • Frequent or long bouts of colds, bronchitis, and other respiratory infections.
  • Long recuperation from illness or surgery.
  • A history of tuberculosis. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
  • Cancer, especially of the digestive tract.

Very good diagnostic tests are available, but no one test can definitively diagnose or exclude Celiac Disease in every individual.2 And, because all diagnostic tests look for harmful effects of gluten, you must be eating gluten in your diet when any diagnostic test is performed. Tests may be inconclusive if you strictly eliminate gluten for longer than two weeks.  So if you think you may have Celiac Disease or feel better going without gluten for a week to 10 days, go get tested before continuing.

Steps to Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Sources:
  1. National Institutes of Health, ”National Institutes of Health Concensus Development Conference Statement, Celiac Disease,” August 9, 2004;1-14. [↩]
  2. Murray, J. ”The Widening Spectrum of Celiac Disease.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Mar 1999;69(3):354-365. [↩]

Treatment

celiac disease gluten sensitivity treatmentThe management of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity is a gluten-free diet for life1 that meets the nutritional needs of the individual.This diet is highly effective for regaining health because it eliminates the cause of health problems originated by contact with gluten.

Treatment for celiac disease should begin only after a complete diagnostic evaluation including serology (blood test to detect antibodies) and biopsy of small intestine tissue. The institution of a gluten-free diet should result in prompt and often dramatic improvement.

Individual symptoms frequently require more than the gluten-free diet in order to resolve. The Health Guide lays out a 6 Step Plan for each symptom listed on the website that is individualized to that symptom or condition.

Complete healing of the intestines may take up to 5 years or even longer in some individuals, especially in the elderly. Recovery is more rapid and complete in children than in adults.2

There is no cure for celiac disease.  Since research is ongoing and much is yet unknown, it is prudent to treat any gluten sensitivity reaction as if it was celiac disease.

The following are six key elements in the management of individuals affected by celiac disease as advanced by the National Institutes of Health:

Sources:
  1. National Institutes of Health, “National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement, Celiac Disease,” August 9, 2004;1-14. [↩]
  2. Murray, J., “The widening spectrum of celiac disease.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Mar 1999;69(3):354-365. [↩]

BioLineRX’s BL-7010 Treatment of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Presented

biolinerx celiac disease therapy
BioLineRx Therapy BL – 7010 Treats Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity

BioLineRx Ltd, a biopharmaceutical development company, was invited to deliver an oral presentation at the recent 2013 National Education Conference & Gluten-Free Expo, the Celiac Disease Foundation’s annual conference, in Pasadena, California.

Leah Klapper, Ph.D., General Manager, BioLine Innovations Jerusalem, presented BioLineRx’s therapy, BL-7010, for the treatment of celiac, as part of a session entitled Breaking Therapies Beyond the Gluten-Free Diet.

BL-7010 will be presented at

Lady Gaga Jumps on the Gluten-Free Diet Bandwagon – Perhaps With Good Reason

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

lady gaga gluten free
Is Lady Gaga Going Gluten Free For Her Health??

According to a news release on MSN.com, Stefani Germanotta (a.k.a. Lady Gaga) is the newest celebrity to say she’s going gluten-free. She made the announcement on the latest leg of her ‘Born This Way Ball’ tour.

She is described as doing so in order to “make sure she is in the best shape for the grueling workout.”

Then the article drops a bombshell… “Her aim is to drop 10 lbs in a month.”

This is where celiac disease experts, bloggers and media know-it-alls usually start lobbing grenades.

Why the Big Deal?

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are serious medical conditions that require a gluten-free diet. Many people diagnosed with one or both disorders chafe at the fact that they cannot eat what they want. While a diagnosis is important, medical professionals and the media emphatically make the groundless claim that the gluten-free diet can be bad for your health unless you are medically diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Lady Gaga is reported to have neither celiac disease nor gluten sensitivity in the MSN article. The article emphasizes her aim to use the diet to get

Domino’s Pizza, Celiac Disease Experts and Defining What Is REALLY Gluten-Free

what is gluten free
Is Food That Contains Gluten Really Gluten-Free?

Domino’s Pizza recently announced it would offer gluten-free pizza for gluten sensitive customers. Domino’s made it clear that the pizzas used a gluten-free crust, but are manufactured using the same equipment as the other gluten-containing foods and are not safe for people with celiac disease.

Domino’s worked with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and received the NFCA’s new, and now suspended, “Amber Designation.” This designation was to tell people that although the ingredients are gluten-free, the product cannot claim that cross contamination does not occur. The “Amber Designation” differed from the NFCA’s existing “Green Designation,” which tells the customer that the product is tested to less than 10 parts per million of gluten. “Amber” was basically a caution sign.

What Did Gluten-Free Watchdog Organizations Say?

  • The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) and other organizations called for a recall of the NFCA’s “Amber Designation.”
  • The North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease commented on Domino’s Pizza ‘Gluten-Free’ Crust Announcement as follows,