The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the natural history of celiac disease in asymptomatic, screen-detected subjects having positive endomysial antibodies and the effects of an intervention with a gluten-free diet. The investigators hypothesize that these subjects may have decreased general health and benefit of the dietary treatment regardless of the small-bowel mucosal structure.
Asymptomatic, endomysial-antibody positive adults will be randomized to either continue with a normal, gluten-containing diet or start an intervention with a gluten-free diet irrespective of the small-bowel mucosal morphology. Several celiac-disease associated histological, serological and clinical markers will be evaluated both at baseline and after one year on trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
gluten-containing cereals removed from diet
Pediatric Research Centre, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere
Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland
Small-bowel mucosal morphology and inflammation
Time frame: One year
Endomysial antibodies
Time frame: one year
Tissue transglutaminase antibodies
Time frame: one year
Antibodies to deamidated gliadin
Time frame: one year
Intestinal tissue transglutaminase-specific IgA deposits
Time frame: one year
Bone mineral density
Time frame: one year
Body composition
Time frame: one year
Health-related quality of life
Time frame: one year
Laboratory parameters
Time frame: one year
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