Vitamin D & K Supplementation for Celiac Sufferers

The amount of people being diagnosed with celiac disease is on the rise and in tandem, the need for condition-specific nutritional supplements for celiac suffers. Marked by a compromised digestive system, those people suffering from celiac disease are at high risk of nutritional deficiencies, particularly those of Vitamins D and K, as highlighted by a recent study conducted in Alberta, Canada. Here’s why supplement companies should consider meeting the nutritional challenges plaguing this growing group of consumers.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disease affecting children and adults. A major symptom of this disease is intoleranceto gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other foods. It should not be confused with wheat allergies as it is distinctly different from allergic responses to foods which people generally outgrow. Those who suffer from celiac disease react to gluten by producing antibodies that attack and destroy the tiny protrusions lining the small intestine called villi. All digested nutrients need to pass through the villi in order to enter the bloodstream. Those who suffer from celiac disease have problems absorbing nutrients and are therefore more likely to suffer from malnourishment. Although celiac patients can lead a normal, healthy life by following a gluten-free diet, the exclusion of foods containing gluten from the diet, result in higher risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Celiacs Need Vitamins D and K Supplementation

A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that children and adolescents who suffer from celiac disease are at risk for decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Poor bone health in celiacs has been associated with under-absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamins D and K. The study, led by scientists in Alberta, Canada, was conducted with 43 celiac participants, aged 3 to 17, who agreed to go on a gluten-free diet for one year.

At the start of the study, 43 percent of these children were diagnosed with sub-optimal levels of Vitamin D and 25 percent showed sub-optimal status for Vitamin K. After one year on a gluten-free diet, the Vitamin D status was resolved in 50 percent of these children, while Vitamin K status resolved in all 43 children. However, the results showed that there was no significant improvement in bone mineral density. Scientists inferred that children and adolescents with celiac disease were at risk for poor bone health in spite of a gluten-free diet. The researchers concluded that routine supplementation of Vitamins D and K was essential for children and adolescents with celiac disease.

Vitamins D and K – Essential for Bone Health

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is well-known for its role in promoting healthy bones and skeletal structure. Recent studies have indicated that Vitamin K is also a required component for healthy bone metabolism taking Vitamin K benefits beyond being a necessary element of blood clotting. An insufficient intake of Vitamin K has been associated with low bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures. Vitamin K supplementation is believed to improve bone health by the gamma-carboxylation of osteocalcin, a protein required for bone mineralization. Increasing evidence suggests that Vitamin K positively affects calcium balance. Calcium is an extremely vital component of bone metabolism. A combination of Vitamins D and K demonstrate synergistic benefits on bone density which is why researchers recommend Vitamins K and D supplementation for children and adolescents with celiac disease

Growing Number of Celiacs

In the United States the number of people suffering from celiac disease is growing steadily. According to the Archives of Internal Medicine published in 2003, about 2 million Americans suffer from this disease—about 1 in 133 people. Prevalence of celiac is greater among those who have a first-degree relative (a parent, sibling or child) with celiac disease and such people account for 1 in 22 Americans.

According to the University of Maryland, School of Medicine Center for Celiac Research, the incidence of celiac disorder has doubled every 15 years since 1974. An epidemiological study published in the Annals of Medicineresearchers found that blood samples taken from more than 3,500 adults, showed a steady rise in the number of people with blood markers for celiac disease. The rate was 1 in 501 in 1974; 1 in 219 in 1989; 1 in 133 in 2003. Findings from these studies also reveal that the prevalence of celiac disease was two and half times in the elderly, suggesting that the development of glucose intolerance may not be restricted to childhood, as was previously speculated.

Gluten-Free Popularity Rising

Findings from such studies continue to help celiacs combat the negative implications of celiac disease on health and spur the growth of gluten-free manufacturing. Gluten-free diets have become a growing trend amongst all types of consumers. According to PackagedFacts’ online nationwide survey conducted in 2010 of 1,881 participants, consumer interest in gluten-free products has moved from the specialty category and is now a "mainstream sensation, embraced by consumers both out of necessity and as a personal choice toward achieving a healthier way to live."

The gluten-free market has experienced growth at an average annual rate of 24 percent since 2004 when the market was valued at $580 million. In 2008, it was valued at $1.6 billion and sales are predicted to reach $2.6 billion by 2012. The latest report from PackagedFacts shows that the market for gluten-free products is growing faster than expected and may reach an estimated $5.5 billion by 2015.

As more people are adopting a gluten-free diet, now is the perfect time for supplement business owners to consider offering their customers a wide range of nutritional, gluten-free supplements to meet the growing demands of a diverse target market. Since this type of manufacturing requires the utmost care, contact a vitamin manufacturerwho can assure you of high-quality gluten-free products. To make sure that stringent quality controls have been adopted and necessary precautions have been taken, get in touch with an experienced GMP-certified nutritional supplement manufacturer who has held a reputation for high-quality gluten-free supplement manufacturing.