Highlights from the International Celiac Disease Symposium in India
Every two years experts gather at the International Celiac Disease Symposium to discuss current research findings and unsolved questions about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. This year, the conference was held in New Delhi to connect with the rapidly growing celiac research communities in India and South Asia.
“After being well recognized in Europe and America, celiac disease is now getting recognized in Asian countries. It is predicted that the number of patients with celiac disease in Asia may surpass the numbers present in rest of the world.
Celiac disease is now at the center-stage of the scientific world. The past decade has been very exciting and productive in terms of diagnostics and understanding the biology of celiac disease. While gluten-free diet is the best mode of treatment, many other targets for control of the immune-pathogenesis of celiac disease are now actively explored, some of them have reached even phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials. A lot really happens in the science of celiac disease every year.
The International Celiac Disease Symposium is the best-known meeting for celiac disease and it involves clinical scientists, basic scientists, nutritionists, patient forums and the industry to discuss and explore the best ways to address the challenges faced by patients with celiac disease. The 17th ICDS, was held for the first time in Asia between September 8th – 10th, 2017.
The local organizing committee, together with the international advisory committee charted out the contemporary program for the scientific forum, clinical forum and the patient forum. ICDS 2017 offered keynote lectures, theme based symposia and debates. Sessions reflected joint interests and needs of scientists, clinicians, nutritionists and patients. ICDS 2017 attracted top line speakers and delegates – from all over the globe.”
Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) Board member Treena Duncan and Executive Director Melissa Secord joined CCA Professional Advisory Council Chair Dr. Donald Duerksen at the symposium.
Preliminary report from the Canadian Celiac Association
- Reprinted with permission from the Canadian Celiac Association Newsletter (September 2017)
• There is a lot of interest in non-biopsy options for diagnosis and monitoring healing. While this is something we would like to have in Canada, it is extremely important for areas where biopsies are not available. Both blood and urine elements are being examined and a single-dose gluten challenge for people who are already gluten free is being studied. These new procedures need to be carefully compared to existing diagnostic processes to make sure that they are sufficiently sensitive and specific to find people with celiac disease without generating false positives and false negatives.
• The prevalence of celiac disease seems to be increasing across age groups and around the world. Even in the best situations, however, at least 60% of people with celiac disease remain undiagnosed.
• Children diagnosed with celiac disease generally make a good transition to being adults with celiac disease.
• First degree relatives of people with celiac disease are at a significantly increased risk for autoimmune thyroid disease, even if they do not develop celiac disease.
• A fructan-reduced diet is generally better than a gluten-free diet in reducing symptoms in people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
• Income, education and symptom severity all affect compliance to a gluten-free diet.
• People who have a poor understanding of the gluten-free diet are likely to exclude safe foods rather than accidentally eat gluten-containing foods. As a result, they often follow an overly-restricted diet
• Low fibre intake may predispose people to persistent celiac symptoms.
CCA members and supports will be invited to hear an update from our delegates. Stay tuned for details!
The Canadian Celiac Association is the national voice for people who are adversely affected by gluten and is dedicated to improving diagnosis and quality of life.
- How to join the CCA
- Visit Celiac.ca
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Help the CCA raise $8,000 for CCA this month. We know Thanksgiving can be a tough time for people, especially the newly diagnosed, with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Funds help CCA provide direct support, education and fund research. The CCA’s participation in international research and to stay on top of the latest trends requires support from individual donors. In order to continue to champion the efforts here in Canada, the CCA needs your help.
