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Thank you for all that replied - this was very much appreciated.

My inquiry was:
>Preliminary:
>Until recently we were able to purchase GF items at quarterly
>"open days" at a factory that specialises in GF grocery items.
>My guess is that a  large proportion of shoppers there
>would be people with CD.

>Observation:
>I was surprised that a large number of shoppers had either
>red hair or at least a red tinge in they hair colour and
>am wondering if that is a coincidence or if there could
>be a relationship.

Summary:
From 33 replies received:
Approx. 60% mentioned that they or family member(s) had red hair or hair
with red highlights.

About 60% pointed out that the Irish have a tendency to red hair and a
higher CD occurrence - pointing to Irish descendants. Some also related
it to Northern European and/or Italian descendants.
Since both, coeliac and hair colour are hereditary - this could be the
connection.

A number pointed out that red hair colouring is the most selected hair
colour and that the observation could have had quite a few members whose
hair wasn't naturally red.

67% mentioned that they had Northern European or Italian descendants.

15% also made the observation of a prominence of red or red highlights
hair colour.

Two correspondents did not see any difference in coeliac crowds, one of
them trained in observing this had a sample space in the hundreds.

Other outcomes:
Two correspondents mentioned that hemochromatosis as a link to red hair,
one of which advised (part quote) "Anyone with red hair in the family
also needs to check for Hemochromatosis,..."

For those that would like more detail:
I have posted the body text of the emails (with the names removed to
protect the individuals' privacy) on my website:

http://member.melbpc.org.au/~kiesskal

Go to the bottom of the home page and actuate the link "Collection of
Answers to Red Hair question".
This link will be available until mid November 2004 and in approx. one
week's time I will add the body text of any more correspondence on the
subject, should it arrive.

Thanking you again,

Greetings from Australia

Paul K


-------------------------------------------
Paul Kiesskalt
Bayswater, Vic., Australia
email: [log in to unmask]
Web-Pages: http://member.melbpc.org.au/~kiesskal
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