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

Dear listmates (Excerpts taken):  The New England Journal of Medicine
cites in its January 17, 2002 (Vol. 346, No. 30) article, the following:
"In addition to a gluten-free diet, all patients with newly diagnosed
celiac sprue who have clinically evident malabsorption should initially
receive a multi-vitamin preparation and appropriate supplements to
correct any iron or folate deficiency.  Patients with steatorrhea,
hypocalcemia, or osteopenic bone disease should receive oral calcium and
vitamin D supplementation." "Approximately 70 percent of patients have
symptomatic improvement within two weeks after starting a gluten-free
diet.  The speed and eventual degree of histologic improvement are
unpredictable but invariably lag behind the clinical response and may
not be evident on repeated biopsy for two to three months.  Although a
return to normal histologic findings is common in children, half of
adults have only a partial resolution on biopsy.  If a patient has no
response to the diet, the most common cause is incomplete adherence.
Persistent symptoms may be caused by coexisting disorders such as
irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, microscopic colitis, or
pancreatic insufficiency." "In one study strict adherence to a gluten-
free diet reduced the risk of all disease-associated cancers including
enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma.  Thus, it seems prudent to
recommend lifelong strict adherence to a gluten-free diet in all
patients with celiac sprue."

Regarding untreated celiac sprue: "Dairy products should be avoided
initially because patients with untreated celiac sprue often have
seconda lactase deficiency.  Afterr three to six months of treatment,
diary products can be reintroduced if the patient has no ill effects."

Take care, Laura