title: The tip of the "celiac iceberg" in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Until recently, celiac disease was considered to be rare in China. We aimed to estimate its true status.
  
  
  METHODS
  By searching the MEDLINE database and four Chinese full-text databases (CNKI, CBM, VIP and WANFANG) (up to August 2012), as well as two HLA allele frequency net databases and the Chinese Statistics Yearbook databases, we systematically reviewed the literature on definite and suspected cases of celiac disease, the predisposing HLA allele frequencies, and on gluten exposure in China. Meta-analysis was performed by analyzing DQ2, DQ8 and DQB1*0201 gene frequencies and heterogeneity in populations from different geographic regions and ethnicities in China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At present, the number of reported celiac disease cases is extremely low in China. The frequencies of the HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ8 haplotypes were 3.4% (95% confidence interval 1.3-5.5%) and 2.1% (0.1-4.1%), respectively. HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 antigen frequencies were 18.4% (15.0-21.7%) and 8.0% (4.5-11.4%), respectively. The frequency of the DQB1*0201 allele was 10.5% (9.3-11.6%) and it was more common in the northern Chinese than in the southern Chinese populations. The chance of being exposed to gluten is rapidly increasing all over China nowadays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data on HLA haplotyping, in conjunction with increasing wheat consumption, strongly suggests that the occurrence of celiac disease is more common in China than currently reported. Coordinated measures by the Chinese government, medical and agricultural research institutions, and food industries, would be justified to create more awareness about celiac disease and to prevent it becoming a medical and societal burden.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China ; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
authors: Juanli
authors: J
authors: Yuan
authors: Jinyan
authors: J
authors: Gao
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Fahui
authors: F
authors: Liu
authors: Cisca
authors: C
authors: Wijmenga
authors: Hongbing
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Luud J W J
authors: LJ
authors: Gilissen
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D015870:Gene Expression; D005787:Gene Frequency; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D005983:Glutens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C053186:HLA-DQ2 antigen; C109756:HLA-DQ8 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D005983:Glutens