| There is no clear method to determine who will | | | | and these peoples' ancestors had a longer period |
| end up with celiac disease. There are at least | | | | of time to adjust to it. In Europe, eating grain only |
| three different things that need to line up. First of | | | | became common around the Middle Ages. |
| all, you need to have genes that allow for celiac | | | | Concerning genetics, there are many different |
| disease. You need to be eating a diet that | | | | genes involved in celiac disease. In fact |
| contains gluten. And finally there needs to be | | | | researchers are not entirely sure of all the |
| some sort of environmental trigger that sets the | | | | different genes at play. But there are two very |
| disease in motion. | | | | important ones: DQ2 and DQ8. A person does not |
| However even with all three of these present, | | | | need to have both of these genes to be |
| you still might not develop celiac disease. In other | | | | susceptible to celiac disease; they just need one. |
| words, they are necessary but they don't | | | | But having both of them increases their |
| guarantee anything. Gluten sensitivity is always | | | | susceptibility even more. |
| possible, though, even without these factors. | | | | These genes come in different varieties. |
| Celiac disease can be found in any race or | | | | Depending on the variety, you will have a |
| ethnicity. It is more prevalent in certain ones than | | | | different risk level for developing celiac disease. |
| others, but everyone is susceptible (assuming | | | | They are present in approximately one-third of |
| they have the genes). How prevalent it appears | | | | the population. Performing tests that screen for |
| to be in different areas can also depend on the | | | | these two genes can be a valuable way to |
| accuracy of the diagnoses. For example, there | | | | determine whether you are susceptible to |
| are many more cases of celiac disease in | | | | developing this disease. But again even if you are |
| Northern Europe than in the United States. But | | | | not susceptible to it, you can always develop |
| that may just be due to the fact that Northern | | | | gluten sensitivity. |
| Europe is more aware of the disease and | | | | In terms of the environmental trigger, it usually |
| therefore diagnoses it more accurately. | | | | involves some sort of event that people describe |
| It's interesting to note that people living in the | | | | as setting off the beginning of their symptoms. It |
| Middle East have a lower rate of gluten sensitivity. | | | | is typically a stressful or significant event such as |
| This might have something to do with the fact | | | | injury, personal trauma, illness, an accident etc. |
| that this area is where grain was first developed, | | | | |