Study looks at differences in celiac disease treatments

Practicing gastroenterologists and academic experts treat celiac disease differently, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. The study found they differ in their use of IgA anti-endomysial antibodies, human leukocyte antigen DQ2/8 testing, gluten challenge and oat consumption, and academics were more likely to recommend celiac testing for Type 1 diabetics, people with Down and Turner syndromes and relatives of people with celiac disease. http://www.beckersasc.com/gastroenterology-and-endoscopy/celiac-disease-treatment-differs-between-physicians-and-academics.html

Nutritionist focuses on gluten-free, dairy-free recipes

Ontario nutritionist Kathy Smart has celiac disease and a dairy allergy, which led her to write a cookbook called "Live the Smart Way" that will be turned into an eight-part TV series featuring easy recipes that are gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and wheat or dairy-free. Smith says the TV show is not just about cooking, however, because she also plans to talk about staying healthy and good lifestyle habits. http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3325485

Gliadin challenge can help patients get celiac diagnosis

Patients who do not get a confirmed celiac diagnosis from standard tests could obtain one from an in vitro gliadin challenge, in which biopsied duodenal mucosa are tested using the toxic part of wheat gluten called gliadin, according to a study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. University of Salerno researchers said the challenge method is helpful for patients who are on a gluten-free diet prior to the biopsy because they do not have to revert to eating gluten foods to achieve the diagnosis. http://www.nature.com/ajg/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ajg2011311a.html

Seattle food banks offer little help to celiac patients

Nutrition advocates say that while many Seattle restaurants offer gluten-free menu options, low-income people with celiac disease still struggle to afford gluten-free products. Lisa Garza, who writes the Gluten Free Foodies blog, has urged food banks to create gluten-free pantries, but none have done so because of space and cost issues. http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2011/08/food_banks_struggle_to_keep_gl.php

Gluten-free food labels get closer FDA scrutiny

Food labels on gluten-free products are getting closer scrutiny from the FDA as it broadly studies revamping food labels in general. The FDA says new technologies allow for more accurate validation of gluten levels in food so it has extended a comment period to the end of September on a 2007 proposal that said products with 20 parts per million or more of gluten could not be labeled as gluten-free. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/fda-takes-closer-look-at-gluten-free-labels.html

FDA gluten-free standard is important for celiac patients

An FDA standard that says food products must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten to achieve gluten-free status is an important first step for celiac disease patients even if it is not the preferred zero amount, Mayo Clinic dietitians say. There are no analytic methods that reliably detect lower concentrations, they say, and experts have said the 20 ppm level is a point at which there are few or no adverse events associated with eating the food. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free/MY00640

Packers' running back goes gluten-free for better health

Green Bay Packers running back James Stark has adopted a gluten-free diet on the advice of a nutritionist who said it was the best way to ensure he is healthy for the 2011 football season. While Stark did not say if he was diagnosed with celiac disease, for which a gluten-free diet is the only treatment, he joins other pro athletes, including Kyle Korver of the Chicago Bulls, U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer and UFC fighter Dennis Hallman, who have found the regimen has improved their health.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8941635