By David Liu, PHD

Thursday Aug 2, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Seven out of 1000 Americans have coeliac disease (celiac disease), according to a new study released online on July 31, 2012 in American Journal of Gastroenterology.

A. Rubio-Tapia of Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota and colleagues estimated the prevalence of coeliac disease in the United States based on a survey of 7,798 Americans aged 6 years or older who enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2010.

Serum samples from participants were tested for immunoglobulin A (IgA) tissue transglutaminase antibodies and also for IgA endomysial antibodies if findings were abnormal to diagnose the disease in each participant.  Participants also reported information on prior diagnosis of coeliac disease and use of a gluten-free diet in a direct interview.

Coeliac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with adsorption of nutrients from foods.  In the study, coeliac disease was defined as having either double-positive serology found in this study or coeliac disease diagnosed by a physician or other health-care professional and being on a GFD.  In a clinical setting, biopsy may be used to confirm a diagnosis.

As a result, 35 participants at a median age of 45 years were found to have coeliac disease with 29 unaware of the disease (Editor's comment: Why should they bother to know if they feel all right?).  The prevalence of coeliac disease in the U.S. was estimated at 0.71 percent with non-Hispanic whites having 1.01 percent.

The researchers concluded "The prevalence of CD in the United States was 0.71% (1 in 141), similar to that found in several European countries. However, most cases were undiagnosed. CD was rare among minority groups but affected 1% of non-Hispanic whites. Most persons who were following a GFD did not have a diagnosis of CD."

Coeliac disease has been associated with high risk of pancreatitis, according to another study recently reported at foodconsumer.org.  There is no cure for coeliac disease.  Gluten-free diet is the only thing that can be done to get the medical condition under control.