Treatment of Celiac Disease - Celiac Sprue Association USA, Inc.

[Guest guest]

http://www.csaceliacs.org/celiac_treatment.php For those of you with Celiac

disease also.......... great link. Joanne C.

How is Celiac Disease Treated?

Once the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) has been confirmed, treatment can

begin immediately. It does not require surgery. It does not require an unending

dependence on medication. It does not even require repeated visits to the

doctor's office. The best and only known treatment for CD is simply this: a

lifelong elimination of " gluten " .

Living Life Gluten-Free

Before adopting a gluten-free (GF) lifestyle, it is important to first

understand what gluten is and where it is found.

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What is Gluten?

The term " gluten " is, in a sense, a generic term for the storage proteins that

are found in grains. In reality, each type of protein - gliadin in wheat,

hordein in barley, secalin in rye, avenin in oats, zein in corn and oryzenin in

rice - is slightly different from the others. The " gluten " in wheat, barley,

rye, and a much lower amount in oats* (WBRO), contain particular amino acid

sequences that are harmful to persons with celiac disease. It is important to

note that the gluten found in corn and rice does not cause harm to those with

CD. (Note: In order to avoid confusion, the term " gluten " used in this web site

refers to only that gluten found in WBRO, not that found in corn and rice.)

Refer to Use of the Term " Gluten-Free " to see how this term is used on food

labels.

* Current clinical studies indicate that pure oats may be included as part of a

gluten-free diet. However, pure, uncontaminated oat sources are not readily

available. Therefore, CSA suggests avoiding oats at this time.

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Where is Gluten Found?

While one would expect to find gluten in places like breads, pastas, cookies and

other obvious grain products, gluten is also " hidden " in many processed foods

such as frozen French fried potatoes, soy sauce and rice cereal. Even many

non-food items like cosmetics, and household cleansers contain gluten. Any

product that is made with WBRO or any of their derivatives will contain varying

amounts of gluten. Refer to the Grains and Flours Glossary for a list of

gluten-free and gluten-containing grains.

Beside the fact that WBRO are present in many foods and other non-food items,

the clinical gluten-free diet also recommends the elimination of gluten that

comes from cross contamination or contact with gluten-containing items. As was

mentioned above, it is difficult to find a source of pure oats in the United

States at this time. While the oats themselves may not bother a person with CD,

the traces of wheat that have contaminated the oats during processing may. Care

must be taken during food preparation and storage to insure that cross

contamination and contact does not occur.

Learning to Read Labels

Since the term " gluten " is rarely used on product labels, it is imperative that

a person on a gluten-free diet learns the typical places that gluten can hide.

(See, also, The CSA Gluten-Free Product Listing for more information and a

listing of commercial products that are gluten-free.) Label reading must become

a habit in order for the celiac consumer to have the confidence to make informed

choices. Refer to Use of the Term " Gluten-Free " to see how this term is used on

food labels.

For over 25 years, CSA has worked to require product labeling that is

meaningful, verifiable and consistent. Today, CSA continues this effort by

working with both the government and the manufacturing industry - informing that

having the source of ingredients listed on the label is essential for people

with CD. More accurate labeling will provide greater confidence and a wider

variety of products for use among the celiac community. Learn more about how CSA

is Working to Improve Product Labeling.

Jj Cathcart

jjcathcart@...