Undiagnosed coeliac disease in older people not critical

Monday, 31 January 2011 10:06

People aged 50 years and older with undiagnosed coeliac disease have been found to have fewer co-morbid health concerns and no increase in mortality compared with matched controls.

Samples used in the Minnesota, USA study were taken from stored sera from a population-based sample of 16,886 people aged 50 years and older. From this cohort, researchers identified and examined 127 undiagnosed cases of coeliac disease and 254 matched controls. Systematic analysis was carried out for more than 100 potentially coexisting conditions. Subjects with undiagnosed coeliac disease were found to have increased rates of osteoporosis and hypothyroidism, as well as lower body mass index and levels of cholesterol and ferritin.

Reference: Godfrey et al. 2010. Gastroenterology Vol. 139(3) pp. 763-9.