The Gluten-Free Diet is an Incomplete Treatment for Celiac Disease

Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. The gluten-free diet excludes all foods that contain wheat, rye and barley. Eating gluten, no matter how small the amount, can damage the intestine. Research shows intestinal damage can occur even when someone with celiac disease has no symptoms.

Consequently, researchers are now in the process of studying new potential celiac disease treatments that could be used alongside the gluten-free diet and, ultimately, instead of the diet. Potential treatments for celiac disease include a therapeutic vaccine that would induce tolerance of gluten, and drugs that would break down the gluten proteins, interrupt the effects of gluten on cells in the intestine, or interrupt the abnormal immune reaction.

Researchers are listening to celiac disease patients’ stories as they decide what to study and how to study it. Currently, celiac disease is not completely understood by researchers. The information needed to help accelerate research into effective celiac disease treatments is information directly from people with celiac disease. Go Beyond Celiac is collecting this information.  The responses you provide in the Go Beyond Celiac surveys will speed the search for additional celiac disease treatment options beyond the gluten-free diet. These new treatments could help restore your health and make food safe again.

We envision a world where there are several safe and effective treatment options. We envision a time when everyone with a celiac diagnosis can live fully - free of symptoms, including those they sometimes accept as normal, absent worry about cross-contract when eating outside their own homes and in complete good health.