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Previous Volume 333:1033-1037 October 19, 1995 Number 16 Next

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ABSTRACT

Background Wheat, rye, and barley damage the small-intestinal mucosa of patients with celiac disease; maize and rice are harmless. The effects of a diet containing oats are uncertain.

Methods In a randomized trial, we compared the effects of gluten-free diets without oats and with oats (with a goal of 50 to 70 g per day from three sources: two types of wheat-starch flour mixed with an equal amount of oats, muesli containing 60 percent oats, and rolled-oat breakfast cereal). Fifty-two adults with celiac disease in remission were followed for 6 months and 40 with newly diagnosed disease for 12 months. Endoscopy with duodenal biopsy was performed at the beginning and end of the study.

Results The mean (±SD) oat intake in the oat group was 49.9±14.7 g per day at 6 months for patients in remission and 46.6±13.3 g per day at 12 months for patients with newly diagnosed disease. The oat and control groups did not differ significantly in nutritional status, symptoms, or laboratory measures. Patients in remission, regardless of diet, did not have worsening architecture of the duodenal villi or increased mononuclear-cell infiltration. All the patients with new diagnoses were in remission at one year, except for one in the control group. Six patients in the oat group and five in the control group withdrew from the study.

Conclusions Moderate amounts of oats can be included in a gluten-free diet for most adult patients with celiac disease without adverse effects.

Source Information

From the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine (E.K.J., R.J.K.J.), and the Department of Clinical Nutrition (M.I.J.U.), Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio; the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere (P.H.P.); and the Departments of Clinical Nutrition (T.A.K., R.M.K.J., M.I.J.U.) and Pathology and Forensic Medicine (V.-M.K.), University of Kuopio, Kuopio — all in Finland.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Janatuinen at the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. 1777, SF-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

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Oats in Celiac Disease
Branski D., Shine M., Janatuinen E. K., Julkunen R. J.K., Uusitupa M. J.U.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 1996; 334:865-866, Mar 28, 1996. Correspondence

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