Study: Celiac Quadrupled in Last 50 Years

About 1% of U.S. adults have a gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease, a new study finds. That’s 4 times the level of 50 years ago. The study was based on blood samples taken in the 1950s and now. But gluten-free eating has grown into a fad far broader than the celiac population, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Americans will spend about $7 billion this year on gluten-free foods, the market research firm Mintel said. It’s estimated that about half of the customers do not have any sensitivity to gluten. Some eat gluten-free out of a belief that it will help them lose weight. Some say it makes them feel better. True gluten intolerance (celiac sprue) is diagnosed with blood tests and a biopsy. It causes bloating, diarrhea, pain and other symptoms. The new study suggests that there’s a true increase, not just more awareness and diagnosis. The cause is not known.