Prevalence of celiac disease-specific antibodies and their association with clinical status and environmental factors
Alejandro de Diego, G., Cerny, N., Tolosa, G., Lulic, M., Fusco, M., Belforte, F. S., Ruiz, B. M., Tamborenea, M. I., Cánepa, A., Cimarelli, M., Ghiglieri, R., Díaz, E., Giorgi, E., Pérez, C., Gassmann, M., Malchiodi, E., Iácono, R., & De Marzi, M. C. (2024). Prevalence of celiac disease-specific antibodies and their association with clinical status and environmental factors. Heliyon.
Credits for Summary: Khyati Shukla Aakash Khurana
The study investigated the prevalence of celiac disease (CeD) antibodies in a rural population, focusing on their association with clinical symptoms and environmental factors, particularly proximity to flour mills. A total of 503 volunteers participated, with data collected on demographics, clinical symptoms, and environmental exposure. Serum samples were analyzed for IgA antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (a-tTg) and gliadin (a-Gli) using a laboratory-developed ELISA.
Results revealed an overall CeD incidence of 1.76%, with significant antibody positivity rates of 9.7% for a-tTg and 32.2% for a-Gli. Women diagnosed with CeD reported fewer pregnancies and a higher incidence of abortions compared to those without a diagnosis, with statistical analysis indicating significant differences (p < 0.05) between groups. Additionally, a higher proportion of individuals with elevated a-tTg levels were found living near flour mills and collection centers, suggesting a potential link between environmental exposure to wheat flour and CeD development.
The findings underscore the importance of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of celiac disease, indicating that exposure to wheat flour may influence its prevalence. The study calls for further research to explore the mechanisms behind these associations and to better understand the role of environmental factors in the development of CeD. The authors declare no competing financial interests related to the research conducted.