Prevalence of Celiac Disease in the U.S. Appears to Have Plateaued

Increasing numbers of people in the U.S., many without diagnosed celiac disease, avoid dietary gluten. To assess trends in the prevalences of diagnosed and undiagnosed celiac disease and to determine how many people without celiac disease avoid gluten, researchers analyzed data from recent CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Between 2009 and 2014, respondents were asked if they had diagnosed celiac disease or if they followed a gluten-free diet; serum samples were analyzed with a highly sensitive and specific two-stage IgA assay for evidence of celiac disease.

Prevalence of historical or serological celiac disease was 0.7%: 1.0% in non-Hispanic whites and 0.2% in others. Celiac disease was more common in women tha…