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Relation between cigarette smoking and celiac disease: evidence from a case-control study.
H Vazquez1, E Smecuol, D Flores
1Small Bowel Section, Clinical Department, Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Gastroenterology Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|March 31, 2001
Summary
Cigarette smoking appears to delay diagnosis in celiac disease patients, with fewer smokers diagnosed compared to controls. This suggests smoking may exacerbate nutritional compromise in celiac disease.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Celiac disease pathogenesis may involve environmental factors beyond gliadin.
- Previous studies suggested a protective effect of cigarette smoking, but findings were inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on the development and diagnosis of celiac disease.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study compared 87 celiac disease patients with 174 age- and sex-matched controls with functional gastrointestinal disorders.
- Data on clinical history and smoking habits were collected via questionnaires and interviews.
Main Results:
- Significantly fewer celiac disease patients were current smokers at diagnosis (16%) compared to controls (33%).
- Non-smokers were more prevalent in the celiac disease group (84%) than in controls (67%).
- Active smoking correlated with younger age at diagnosis and lower BMI/body weight in both groups.
Conclusions:
- A lower proportion of celiac disease patients were smokers at diagnosis, suggesting smoking may delay diagnosis.
- Nutritional compromise in smoking celiac patients may result from combined effects of the disease and smoking.
- Further research is needed to determine if the smoking-celiac disease relationship is causal or incidental.