Many alternative medicine claims unproven, ineffective for celiac disease
In a study of 500 alternative medicine providers, a significant number advertised tests or treatments for celiac disease with claims that are either false or unproven, according to Benjamin Lebwohl, MD, director of clinical research at Columbia University’s Celiac Disease Center. See the Reuters Article referencing The American Journal of Gastroenterology article here.
Healthy adults had less bloating, increased well-being, and a small but significant weight loss on low-gluten compared with high-gluten diets, a study published in Nature Communications found. However, the study found those benefits may be linked to the diet’s dietary fiber rather than lack of gluten. “Gluten-free may not necessarily be the healthy choice many
An association between celiac disease and microscopic colitis has long been recognized. A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology explored the possibility of non-celiac sensitivity to gluten. The results suggested eating a diet that contains gluten did not increase the risk for microscopic colitis in women who do not already have celiac disease. See
Celiac disease patients experience higher rates of functional dyspepsia, according to a study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Researchers also found an association between self-diagnosed wheat sensitivity (with no history of celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or colorectal cancer) and irritable bowel syndrome. See the article on Clinical Advisor here.
About 38% of 400 patients with undiagnosed celiac disease had one or more indicators for testing, but only 4.4% received testing, according to a study in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. “Gastroenterologists should think about celiac disease more broadly — not just as a gastrointestinal condition but also as a systemic disorder with multiple
The FDA released draft recommendations for including gluten content on labels for oral drug products, saying the goal is to reduce uncertainty among health care practitioners and patients. Most oral medications contain very little or no gluten, the agency said. See the review on Healio (free registration)
