WHO WE ARE TODAY

An Italian study finds that celiac disease is nearly twice as frequent among females than males. The study appeared in The American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) (April 2008).

The June/July issue of Living Without includes an interview with Dr. Alessio Fasano, who was instrumental in coming up with the "1 in 133" study that found that celiac disease was far more prevalent in the United States than previously thought. Fasano offers the following update:

Keep in mind that in 2003 when the study was completed, there were only about 40,000 people diagnosed with celiac disease in the United States. Since that time, due to increased awareness, the rate has doubled every three years. Today, we’re close to 100,000 diagnosed—and counting. We estimate there are about 3 million people in the United States with this disease. Think about that. There is no other pathology that is so frequent—not Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis. Nothing even comes close.

So...2,900,000 Americans with celiac disease may still be undiagnosed.