A major cause of osteoporosis in both men and women is
undiagnosed gluten intolerance.  The small intestine villi are
atrophied and are blunted.  Instead of small projectiles that
oscillate as liquidized food comes by, they tend to become flat,
rigid and unmoving from the damage by gliadin in gluten grains.

The gastroenterology doc described the area if all villi surfaces
to be about 3 tennis court surfaces.  When the villi lose surface
and become blunted or even flat, the absorption surface area is
diminished by 1/3 to 1/2 or even more.

Eliminating gluten allows the villi to recover and if the person is
diligent in refraining from hidden gliadin in wheat, rye and barley
(oats are now being investigated as being safe for some adults)
by reading labels and finding the food processors that maintain
"gluten free" status for market recognition, then they stay recovered.

Hidden gliadin is the problem.  But by restoring such a large surface
the villi can capture all the necessary nutrient components to utilizize
all nutrients better, such as the vitamins and minerals in foods. Also
phytates in grains have been implicated in preventing calcium from
being absorbed properly.

Deficienty may be called "malabsorption" and does lead to osteoporosis.
That is why Dr. Alessio Fasano of Univ. of Maryland who lectures at
the Seattle Gluten Intolerance conference said women so diagnosed
should be tested for IgA and cut gluten out of the diet for improved
bone status.

In Italy, children are all tested by IgA for gluten intolerance by
grade 3 as 1 in 50 of the population there has celiac disease due to
centuries of wheat pasta being the staple in their diet.  Here in
the US, mass testing has resulting in figures of 1 in 150.  There is
a hereditary component also.  Cancers of the digestive tract are 20
to 200 times more frequent in gluten intolerant persons.  Lymphomas
are also implicated in gluten intolerance in much greater numbers.

So if there is osteoporosis, lymphoma, digestive disorder or such
digestive tract cancers in  family history, it is prudent to be
tested for celiac disease.  For a full run down of symptoms:

http://www.wwwebguides.com/nutrition/diets/glutenfree/menta.html

Judy Ritchie

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