By Nina Elias for Prevention
The claim: People with celiac disease may have double the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 63rd Annual Scientific Session.
The research: Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic looked at the health records of nearly 22.4 million adults, 24,530 of whom were diagnosed with celiac disease, the chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive system triggered by gluten. After crunching the numbers, study author R.D. Gajulapalli and his team noticed a significantly higher prevalence of CAD among those with celiac disease. And after accounting for all other risk factors (like smoking, cholesterol, and diabetes), the results were shown to apply to celiac sufferers of all ages.
What it means: Celiac disease, which affects approximately one in 133 Americans, has already been linked to heart failure and heart rhythm issues. This new association between CAD and celiac disease adds to growing evidence about the role of chronic inflammation in heart problems. "People with celiac disease have some persistent low-grade inflammation in the gut, which can spill immune mediators into the blood stream and accelerate the process of atherosclerosis, resulting in CAD," explains Gajulapalli. As for people with non-celiac gluten sensitivities, the jury is still out. "There is a theoretical possibility varying upon the severity, but this will need long term studies to confirm."
Bottom line: There's no cure for celiac disease, so researchers say patients should continue to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle and receive regular testing for CAD.
More from Prevention:
8 Flat-Belly Gluten-Free Recipes
Celiac Disease: When Your Gut Screams No!
What Causes Celiac Disease?
