Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease, CD, is an autoimmune disorder where the patient is intolerant to gluten. Gluten is the bindig agent in all products with flour. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging or destroying villi-the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats.

Facts

• 1 out of every 133 Americans (about 3 million people) has CD.
• 97% of Americans estimated to have CD are not diagnosed.
• There are currently 0 drugs available to treat CD.
• Gluten free foods are, on average, 242% more expensive then their non-GF counterparts.
• Age of diagnosis is key: If you are diagnosed between age 2-4, your chance of getting an additional autoimmune disorder is 10.5%. Over the age of 20, that rockets up to 34%.
• Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.

For more information, here is a link to WebMD.
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