CD more common than 50 years ago

Celiac expert and gastroenterologist, Dr. Joseph Murray, of Mayo Clinic lead a study that is published in the July 2009 issue of Gastroenterology.

This study looked at blood samples that were collected at
Warren Air Force Base between 1948 and 1954. The researchers tested the samples for celiac disease and compared the results from those individuals collected recently. They found young people today are more than 4 times as likely to have celiac disease than the same age group in the 1950's.

Also noted in the study was that patients who did not know they had celiac disease were almost 4 times as likely to have died during the 45 years of follow up.

It's not known exactly why it much more common.

Watch a video of Dr. Murray discuss this study

More details on the study can be found here.


Al's Commentary:

I wonder how much of the increase has to do with the amount of processed foods that exist in the Standard American Diet?