<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Newsletter Roundup
------------------
Compiled by Jim Lyles
This section contains excerpts from newsletters produced by other
celiac groups.
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: :
: Excerpts from _Celiac Connections_ :
: ---------------------------------- :
: March 1998 Katie Marschilok, editor :
: April 1998 Capital District Celiac Support Group :
: 4 Fairlawn Lane :
: Troy, NY 12180 :
:......................................................:
Congratulations to Dr. Peter Green and his colleagues. Six of their
abstracts were accepted for presentation at Digestive Disease Week in
New Orleans this May. This is the world's largest international
meeting of gastroenterologists and related specialists. The accepted
abstracts are:
"Screening of First-Degree Relatives for Celiac Disease in the US"
"Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Celiac Disease--a US Study"
"Celiac Disease in the Elderly--Experience in the US"
"Small Intestinal Malignancy and Celiac Disease"
"Refractory Celiac Disease is Due to Celiac Disease"
"All that Scallops is not Celiac Disease"
The first abstract refers to a study involving first degree relatives
of people who attended a celiac support group meeting. The subjects
included 47 parents, 35 children, and 26 siblings of celiacs (one was
both parent and daughter), 107 subjects altogether. All claimed to be
clinically asymptomatic. Blood samples from the subjects were tested
for EMA, IgG AGA, and IgA AGA. 33 subjects had elevated IgG and/or
IgA AGA levels. Of these, another 7 also had positive EMA. 4 of
these 7 had biopsies that were abnormal and consistent with the
diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). Also, one of the EMA-negative
subjects with elevated IgG AGA was biopsied and found to have partial
villous atrophy. These findings are similar to data reported from
Europe, suggesting that CD is underestimated in the USA.
-=-=- -=-=-
Boston Market recently sent a "Food Allergy Information" sheet, which
included this list of gluten-free (GF) products:
butternut squash
rotisserie chicken
cranberry relish
creamed spinach
fruit salad
jumpin juice squares
mashed potatoes
steamed vegetables
zucchini marinara
For more information, call 800-356-7000.
-=-=- -=-=-
Hillshire Farms 97% Fat Free Sausage and Hot Dog products should be
AVOIDED by celiacs. The remaining Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, Deli
Select, Hot Dog, Bacon, and Ham products are GF. For more
information, call 800-328-2426.
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: :
: Excerpts from the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America :
: ----------------------------------------------------------- :
: newsletter: May 1997 Cynthia Kupper, editor :
: newsletter: 3rd Quarter 1997 PO Box 23053 :
: newsletter: 1st Quarter 1998 Seattle, WA 98102-0353 :
:.............................................................:
Gluten-Free Stickers are available for marking GF in your pantry. The
stickers are 3/4-inch in diameter, fluorescent green, and have "GF"
printed on them. The cost is $2 for a sheet of 120 stickers,
including postage. Write to Gluten Intolerance Group of North
America, PO Box 23053, Seattle, WA 98102-0353.
-=-=- -=-=-
Product Information:
* Nupro (R) Prophylaxis Paste is free of gluten and soy, according to
Dentsply International Preventative Care (as of June 1997, call
800-989-8825 to verify). All grit textures are gluten-free.
Many dentists use this dental care product.
* Arby's Restaurants: A letter from Triarc Restaurant Group, dated
Jan. 26, 1998, indicates that Arby's signature roast beef is
gluten-free (GF), as are the "natural" baked potatoes and cheddar
cheese sauce. (The modified food starch in the cheddar cheese
sauce is from corn.) For more information, call 954-351-5100.
* Cascade Fresh(r) Yogurt: A letter dated Feb. 3, 1998, states no
preservative, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, colors,
flavors, or additives are used. This yogurt is sweetened with
fruit juice concentrate. The "natural flavors" include only
concentrates of the fruit listed on the label. Cascade Fresh
yogurt is GF, as are the fruit juice concentrates added to it.
-=-=- -=-=-
Ask the Professionals:
Question: Does a person with celiac disease (CD) need to be concerned
about antibiotic therapy for any reasons? Short term course or
long term course? The type used?
Dr. Joseph Murray (University of Iowa) answers: Most antibiotics are
gluten-free (GF) but not all. Ask the pharmacist to check for you.
If they are needed, then antibiotics should be taken. Antibiotics
have gastrointestinal (GI) side effects but they are no more or
less common in celiacs than in "glutons" (those eating gluten).
Diarrhea is the most common side effect.
Question: Why do some listings for foods to avoid on a GF diet
include canola oil and others don't? Is there a problem with guar
gum?
Cynthia Kupper, CRD, CDE answers: Canola oil is made from rapeseed.
Rapeseed is GF; however, some people have GI symptoms because of
using products, such as canola oil, due to sensitivity (an allergic
type reaction) to the food. Sometimes it will appear on a "to
avoid list" for people with CD. This may have been done to help
decrease confusion in knowing what is a "gluten contamination"
reaction and what is a "general sensitivity" to foods. When you
see information that is conflicting like this, it is always best to
ask for a clarification.
Guar gum is GF. It is ground from the endosperm of the Cyanopois
tetragonoloba plant. It is primarily a carbohydrate that is
soluble in hot or cold liquids, but insoluble in oil and greases.
It is tasteless and odorless. It has 5-8 times the thickening
power of starch. It is used like xanthan gum in products to
thicken, stabilize, emulsify, and bind or "glue" together baked
goods and frozen desserts such as ice cream. In medications it is
used as a binder.
Guar gum does have a natural laxative effect. In some individuals,
the appearance of loose stools or diarrhea may be confused with a
reaction to gluten. Other ingredients, such as sorbitol and
mannitol (commonly found in sugar-free foods), also can induce
diarrhea. In some medical situations sorbitol is prescribed to
ease constipation. The gas, stomach aches, and diarrhea are a
result of the ingredient, not gluten ingestion. The amounts of
these ingredients that will cause diarrhea vary with each person.
Some may react as the result of eating one small muffin made with
guar gum or a couple of pieces of candy made with sorbitol; others
may need to eat larger quantities for the same effect. When using
products containing guar gum, sorbitol, or mannitol, remember that
a change in stools and GI symptoms may only be a result of this
additive, meaning simply that you are sensitive to small quantities
of these ingredients and should be careful about the amount you
use.
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: :
: Excerpts from _K.C. Gluten-Free Advocate_ :
: ----------------------------------------- :
: April 1998 Joe & Janna Denison, editors :
: Greater Kansas City Chapter of CSA/USA :
: 7911 Little Lane :
: Pleasant Valley, MO 64068-9187 :
:.......................................................:
A Psychological Aspect of CD: Diet maintenance is not the only aspect
of celiac disease (CD) that needs addressing. Those with CD also deal
with a grief process common with any life-changing event. The
feelings do not necessarily go in order and not everyone experiences
all of them.
First, denial about having the disease and the all-encompassing
changes that take place is common. During the denial phase, those
with CD continue eating whatever they want because the ramifications
have not set in. The thinking is, "I'm already sick, what is one
cookie or slice of pizza going to hurt?"
Next, anger and depression about the situation sets in. "Why did this
happen to me?" runs through the mind of the celiac. There are many
frustrations associated with CD that add to the anger and depression.
Eating out, in a restaurant or someone else's home, triggers anxiety
over having to explain once again the foods that are acceptable and
not.
Finally, there is acceptance that this is not really a bad disease to
have, if you are going to have one. There are no needles, no pills,
and no hospital treatments; only a diet to control the symptoms.
Frankly, the alternative to the diet (diarrhea, skin rash, cramps) is
incentive enough to do everything possible to keep toxic gluten from
contaminating your diet.--Kristina Dilks
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: :
: Excerpts from the Healthy Villi Celiac Support Group :
: ---------------------------------------------------- :
: newsletter: Spring 1998 Melinda Dennis, editor :
: 95 Orchard St., #2 :
: Somerville, MA 02144 :
:......................................................:
Caines: The following Caines products are gluten-free (GF), as of
Dec. 9, 1997: All Natural Mayonnaise, Light Reduced Calorie
Mayonnaise, Reduced Fat Mayonnaise Dressing, Fat Free Mayonnaise
Dressing, Tartar Sauce, Sweet Relish, Kosher Dill Pickles (whole,
chips, spears, sandwich cuts), and Sweet Cucumber Pickles (chips,
sandwich cuts). The distilled vinegar and modified food starch used
in Caines products are both derived from corn. For more information,
call 508-772-0300.
-=-=- -=-=-
Rice Facts: For some fun online rice facts, try this website:
<http://www.usarice.com>.
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: :
: Excerpts from _Lifeline_ :
: ------------------------ :
: Spring 1998 (Vol. XVI, No. 2) Leon Rottmann, editor :
: CSA/USA, Inc. :
: PO Box 31700 :
: Omaha, NE 68131-0700 :
:.........................................................:
Hypothyroidism: Individuals are at a higher level of risk for
hypothyroidism if they have another autoimmune condition such as
celiac disease (CD), type I diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms include lethargy, forgetfulness, sluggishness, loss of
interest in normal daily activities, feeling cold or tired, hair
growing slowly or becoming dry and brittle, wounds taking longer to
heal, itchy skin or dryness not helped by oils and lotions,
constipation, muscle cramps, and, in women, increased menstrual flow.
Mild hypothyroidism may not cause any symptoms. The treatment is
synthetic thyroid hormones, taken as a daily pill for the rest of your
life. Thyroid failure can be progressive; as time goes on the dosage
may need to be increased, so a yearly checkup is important.
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