The Hindu : 'Gluten allergy cases on the rise in North India'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 28, 2003

Other States

Other States - Punjab

'Gluten allergy cases on the rise in North India'

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH SEPT. 27. Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, normally affects young children but research at the PGI, Chandigarh and Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, has established that many adults in Northern India are also its victims.

There has been an alarming increase in the number of such patients in the last few years.

R. Kochhar, additional professor, department of gastroenterology, PGI, said celiac disease is a genetic disorder, which is being increasingly diagnosed in adult patients in India even though the largest number of victims are in Europe followed by United States.

Earlier, doctors believed that the classical symptoms were diarrhoea, weight loss and malnutrition. Even osteoporosis, severe iron deficiency, mouth ulcers and unexplained rapid weight loss could point to the disease rather than these phenomena being seen in malnourished patients only, according to Ajit Sood of the DMC College. And those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome could be afflicted with the disease. Children having stunted growth and no gastrointestinal symptoms could also be suffering from gluten allergy.

Proteins which are especially rich in proline and glutamine are the main culprits. These are found in wheat, rye, barley and oat.

The patients normally suffer damage to the lining epithelium of the small intestines, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients. Specialists admit that given the broad range of symptoms, it is very difficult to diagnose the disease.

If a patient does not adopt a gluten-free lifestyle, he or she can develop gastrointestinal cancer or lymphoma. Normally, the disease is diagnosed through endoscopy, biopsy and highly-sensitive blood tests which detect antibodies to the wheat proteins.

However, most of the diagnostic laboratories in India do not have the facilities to conduct these expensive tests.

Unfortunately, health care professionals lack awareness about the disease.

It has been well-established that there are no drugs or medicines to cure this disease.

The only solution is to adhere strictly to a 100 per cent gluten-free diet for life. Gluten-free diet should include abstinence from not only wheat but also suji, maida, bread, biscuits, ice-cream, noodles and other processed foods besides rye, barley and oats.

Rice and maize products are the only safe staple diet for such patients.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

'Gluten allergy cases on the rise in North India'