<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Friends,

Several colleagues have encouraged me to respond directly to the post on
celiac disease and birth defects. (I did reply to the author, who chose not
to include my post in the summary provided to the list.) I am concerned
that the information shared could unnecessarily frighten women and am
writing to provide established scientific information about the
relationship between celiac disease and pregnancy. The course of
undiagnosed celiac disease in pregant women has been widely researched, and
excellent scientific studies published on this issue.

Undiagnosed celiac disease does not cause birth defects. There is no doubt
in the medical literature about this.
Any occurrence of celiac disease and birth defects is an unfortunate
coincidence.

Here is what scientific research tells us about the true relationship
between untreated celiac disease and pregnancy is:

--There is an increased risk of miscarriage (the fetus is not receiving
enough nutrients to sustain itself)
--There is a direct link with infertility (the body is not receiving
nutrients to spur ovulation)
--There is a direct link to premature birth and low birth weight among new
babies born to moms with celiac disease.

For more information, please refer to an article I wrote for the Scott-Free
Guide to Gluten-Free Living, which can be found on www.celiac.com. (It's
called something like Fertility, Pregancy and Celiac Disease...)

Medical science holds great hope for people with celiac disease and their
families; imagine where we'd be if physicians today were still telling
people that they will "grow out of it" and the diet eliminated anything
that might cause a stomachache in a few individuals. If we truly want
advances in celiac disease, we must fund the research needed and then learn
from the results of this vital work.

Hope this is helpful.

Michelle
Michelle Melin-Rogovin, Program Director
The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program
5839 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 4065
Chicago, Illinois 60637
Phone: 773-834-0166
Fax: 773-702-0666

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