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Event dates: June 9-11, Sheraton City Centre Hotel 150 West 500 South, Salt
Lake City, UT 84101
"97 percent of Americans with celiac disease are still not diagnosed"
National celiac disease experts to gather in Salt Lake City, discuss new
research, share coping tips, raise awareness for the undiagnosed June 9-11
Salt Lake City, June 1, 2006 - The National Institutes of Health reports that
1 of every 133 Americans have a serious illness called celiac disease, also
known as gluten intolerance, but, only a small fraction of people living with
celiac disease in the U.S. have been diagnosed. National celiac disease experts
will gather in Salt Lake City June 9-11 to present research, health and
coping tips for the diagnosed and raise awareness of this insidious disease for the
undiagnosed.
The experts will be in Salt Lake City as part of the Gluten Intolerance Group
of North America's national education conference to be held at the Salt Lake
City Sheraton City Centre hotel, 150 West 500 South.
Key presenters at the conference include: Dr. Alessio Fasano, University of
Maryland Center for Celiac Research, who will present advances in celiac
research; Dr. John Zone, University of Utah School of Medicine, who will discuss the
latest developments related to skin health as it pertains to celiac disease;
Dr. Janet Harnsberger, private practice pediatrician associated with Primary
Children's Medical Center, who will present issues related to raising children
with celiac disease; Carol Fenster, Ph.D. and consultant, who will demonstrate
how to cook baked delicacies without wheat; and Shelley Case, registered
dietician, who will detail the basics of the gluten free diet.
Once thought rare, celiac disease is associated with and can lead to as many
as 200 other diseases and conditions including osteoporosis, lymphoma, stomach
cancer, anemia, lactose intolerance, dermatitis herpetiformis (a burning,
itching and blistering rash), Type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, down syndrome,
unexplained infertility, miscarriage, neurological conditions, rheumatoid
arthritus and many others.
"Many people have no symptoms and are not aware of the potential, devastating
affects of the disease," said Cynthia Kupper, executive director of the
national GIG and a registered dietician. "Others suffer painful and often baffling
symptoms and spend an average of 11 years seeking a diagnosis. They often
endure uncomfortable procedures to rule out other illnesses before their celiac
disease is diagnosed. Because we know that celiac disease runs in families, and
with better awareness and education such as that provided at our annual
conference, Americans will be able to ask their doctors for a new, fairly simple
blood test."
Celiac disease is a chronic, inherited disease which is the result of an
immune-mediated response to eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and
barley) that damages the small intestine. The propensity for celiac disease can
trigger at anytime in a person's life. Typical triggers can include stress,
surgery, pregnancy, giving birth, viral infections, or any life altering or
traumatic event.
There is no pill for celiac disease at this time. The only treatment is
following a life-long gluten-free diet. Foods, beverages, and medications that
contain wheat, barley, rye, and cross contaminated oats must be eliminated
completely. Based on current research, the National Institutes of Health predicts
that 2 million Americans have celiac disease and estimates that only 60,000 have
been diagnosed. Many more people suffer varying degrees of gluten intolerance.
To learn more, go to www.nih.gov.
About the Gluten Intolerance Group
A not-for-profit organization, the Gluten Intolerance Group's mission is to
increase awareness of and knowledge about celiac disease, a common, but highly u
nder-diagnosed illness. To learn more, go to www.gluten.net.
Media contact: Barb Shelley, Gluten Intolerance Group,
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