Gluten Free Diet Reduces Risk Of Bone Fractures For Those With Celiac Disease

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There is a great deal of talk about celiac disease. Two million Americans have the condition. Certainly there are challenges related to food choices but there is a health impact as well.

People with celiac have up to a seven-fold increased risk for bone fractures. But it doesn't have to be that way. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body cannot process the wheat protein gluten. It often causes gastrointestinal symptoms and is linked to other health problems. But a gluten-free diet can relieve discomfort.

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has found that following a gluten-free diet can reduce by 14 percent the potential risk for bone fractures that people who don't follow the diet can face.

The only treatment for celiac disease is avoiding foods with gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and barley.

Common processed foods that often contain gluten include bread and pastries, chips, candy, deli meats and hot dogs.