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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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