Cures/Treatments for Celiac Disease?

Does anyone know of any treaments and/or cures for the wheat allergy know as Celiac disease other than maintaining a gluten-free diet? I am most interested if anyone knows if doctors are pursuing gene therapy to solve the allergy.

Treatment of Celiac Disease

How is Celiac Disease Treated?

Once the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) has been confirmed, treatment can begin immediately. It does not require surgery. It does not require an unending dependence on medication. It does not even require repeated visits to the doctor’s office. The best and only known treatment for CD is simply this: a lifelong elimination of “gluten”.

Living Life Gluten-Free

Before adopting a gluten-free (GF) lifestyle, it is important to first understand what gluten is and where it is found.

What is Gluten?

The term “gluten” is, in a sense, a generic term for the storage proteins that are found in grains. In reality, each type of protein – gliadin in wheat, hordein in barley, secalin in rye, avenin in oats, zein in corn and oryzenin in rice – is slightly different from the others. The “gluten” in wheat, barley, rye, and a much lower amount in oats* (WBRO), contain particular amino acid sequences that are harmful to persons with celiac disease. It is important to note that the gluten found in corn and rice does not cause harm to those with CD. (Note: In order to avoid confusion, the term “gluten” used in this web site refers to only that gluten found in WBRO, not that found in corn and rice.) Refer to Use of the Term “Gluten-Free” to see how this term is used on food labels.

* Current clinical studies indicate that pure oats may be included as part of a gluten-free diet. However, pure, uncontaminated oat sources are not readily available. Therefore, CSA suggests avoiding oats at this time.

Where is Gluten Found?

While one would expect to find gluten in places like breads, pastas, cookies and other obvious grain products, gluten is also “hidden” in many processed foods such as frozen French fried potatoes, soy sauce and rice cereal. Even many non-food items like cosmetics, and household cleansers contain gluten. Any product that is made with WBRO or any of their derivatives will contain varying amounts of gluten. Refer to the Grains and Flours Glossary for a list of gluten-free and gluten-containing grains.

Beside the fact that WBRO are present in many foods and other non-food items, the clinical gluten-free diet also recommends the elimination of gluten that comes from cross contamination or contact with gluten-containing items. As was mentioned above, it is difficult to find a source of pure oats in the United States at this time. While the oats themselves may not bother a person with CD, the traces of wheat that have contaminated the oats during processing may. Care must be taken during food preparation and storage to insure that cross contamination and contact does not occur.