Telomere Length in Celiac Disease in a Population-Based Cohort: A HUNT Study

Celiac disease (CeD) occurs in genetically predisposed individuals who are exposed to dietary gluten proteins. Genome-wide association studies have found CeD to be associated with a genetic predisposition to shorter telomere length. It was therefore of interest to measure leukocyte telomere length in a large cohort of patients with CeD.

This study was population-based and included a defined cohort of patients with CeD in the Trøndelag Health Study. Leukocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients and controls 1:2 matched for age, sex, alcohol, and tobacco use.

The study population consisted of 58.7% women, with mean age 43 (SD 14.5) years, where half were never smokers, and the majority consumed little or no alcohol. Telomer length in 1,077 patients with CeD did not differ significantly from 2,147 matched controls, 10.39 kb (SD 2.21) vs 10.52 kb (SD 2.25), P = 0.088. In a mixed linear model, we found higher age and alcohol consumption, but not tobacco use or sex, to be associated with shorter telomere length. The telomere length did not differ between patients with newly diagnosed and known CeD.

This large population-based study provides evidence that CeD is not associated with clinically meaningful telomere shortening.