title: Long-term consumption of oats in adult celiac disease patients.
abstract: Many celiac disease patients tolerate oats, but limited data are available on its long-term consumption. This was evaluated in the present study, focusing on small-bowel mucosal histology and gastrointestinal symptoms in celiac adults maintaining a strict gluten-free diet with or without oats. Altogether 106 long-term treated celiac adults were enrolled for this cross-sectional follow-up study. Daily consumption of oats and fiber was assessed, and small-bowel mucosal morphology and densities of CD3+, αβ+ and γσ+ intraepithelial lymphocytes determined. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed by a validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire. Seventy (66%) out of the 106 treated celiac disease patients had consumed a median of 20 g of oats (range 1-100 g) per day for up to eight years; all consumed oat products bought from general stores. Daily intake and long-term consumption of oats did not result in small-bowel mucosal villous damage, inflammation, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Oat-consumers had a significantly higher daily intake of fiber than those who did not use oats. Two thirds of celiac disease patients preferred to use oats in their daily diet. Even long-term ingestion of oats had no harmful effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere FIN-33521, Finland. katri.kaukinen@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaukinen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018554:Avena; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012639:Seeds; D055815:Young Adult