Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic.CELIAC coe·li·ac (s   l- k DISEASE: A Hidden Epidemic PETER H.R. GREEN AND RORY JONES Celiac disease celiac disease: see sprue. affects up to 1 percent of the world's population but is diagnosed in far fewer people because its symptoms masquerade as those of many other diseases. Gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and itchy itch·y (  ch)adj. skin are among the symptoms of this hereditary autoimmune disorder of the small intestine. In the disease, the immune system reacts inappropriately to gluten gluten /glu·ten/ (gloo´ten) the protein of wheat and other grains that gives to the dough its tough elastic character. Having or causing an itching sensation. glu·ten (gl  t, or wheat protein. Green, director of the celiac disease center at Columbia University, and Jones, a science writer, describe the biological mechanisms behind celiac disease, explore why the condition is underdiagnosed, and offer advice for a person wondering whether he or she has it. The authors include a primer on autoimmune diseases and tips for dealing with the stressful symptoms of celiac disease, analyzing the possible effects of a gluten free diet on each symptom. HarperCollins, 2006, 352 p., hardcover, $22.95.
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