CELIAC DISEASE
Researchers looking at sample of people in Olmstead Couty, Minnesota found that the number of new cases of celiac disease increased from 11 to 17 per 100,000 between 2000 &2010. The researchers used medical records for people living in Olmsted County which is home to the Mayo Clinic and 2 affiliated hospitals, and where the health of most of the population is tracked thru research projects.In the decade starting2000 some 249 people were diagnosed with celiac disease spreading over the ages of 1 thru 85. 63% of the new cases were women.The number of patients diagnosed with this disease went up during the first 4 years and then it plateaued. The increased diagnosis may be due to awareness and there fore increased screening.
Dr Murray and his colleagues noted that GI infections have been linked to development of celiac disease. So has high consumption of gluten-containing foods, like breads, bagels,and pizza. Dr Alessio Fassano, director of the Center for Celiac Researchat Mass General Hospital for Children in Boston agreed that something in the environment is triggering the genetic and biological factors that activate the the disease.
Ref American Journal of Gastro 2013. / Medscape Gastro March 29 2013. / Reuters Health Information.
