Cleveland Plain Dealer Article: Celiac Disease Hard to Diagnose

My hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, is definitely not a mecca for healthy eating or diet trends...but they did take time to publish this and a few other articles in their health section a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for making this a mainstream read!

Celiac disease hard to diagnose

Celiac disease is often overlooked as a possible cause of anemia, intestinal discomfort and a host of other ills because its symptoms are similar to other ailments, experts say. 

It is an autoimmune digestive disease set off by consumption of gluten found in wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats. Unchecked, this genetic disease damages the villi of the small intestine and ultimately interferes with the body's ability to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream. 

"The disease doesn't just stop at malabsorption and malnutrition," says Trisha Lyons, a licensed and registered dietitian at MetroHealth Medical Center. Other complications can include autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, infertility, thyroid disease, migraines, cancer and more, she says. 

Celiac disease may not come up in conversation at the doctor's office, probably because it can have as many as 300 widely varying symptoms -- including abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression and irritability -- common to other disorders. 

Lyons says people should not self-diagnose when it comes to celiac disease.

"There's no way to know you have the disease unless you are tested for it," Lyons says, which includes a blood test and an intestinal biopsy. 

She advises people who suspect they have celiac disease to get tested before they eliminate foods from their diet. "In order to be tested, you have to be consuming the offensive grains. 

"This is a life-altering diagnosis," says Lyons, which should be done by a doctor. Without a proper diagnosis, patients may be taken less seriously by their physicians, families and friends. 

Experts caution that while gluten-free eating is critical for those with celiac disease, it's not necessarily healthy for others. 

"I can't imagine anyone who would want to follow this diet if it's not necessary," Lyons says. "It's extremely expensive, significantly lower in fiber, lower in B vitamins and iron, and inconvenient." Additionally, she says, gluten-free products generally are higher in calories, fat and carbohydrates. 

"When the gluten is removed, more oil, eggs and sugar have to be added to make the product palatable," Lyons says. 

Lyons, who works exclusively with people diagnosed with celiac disease, advises clients to make an effort to include fresh fruits, vegetables, lean dairy and high-fiber grains, such as flaxseed meal and quinoa, in their daily diets.

-- Ellen Jan Kleinerman