How common is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is the most common genetic disease in Europe. In Italy about 1 in 250 people and in Ireland about 1 in 300 people have celiac disease. Recent studies have shown that it may be more common in Africa, South America, and Asia than previously believed.

Until recently, celiac disease was thought to be uncommon in the United States. However, studies have shown that celiac disease occurs in an estimated 1 in 133 Americans. Among people who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with celiac, as many as 1 in 22 people may have the disease. A recent study in which random blood samples from the Red Cross were tested for celiac disease suggests that as many as 1 in every 250 Americans may have it. Celiac disease could be underdiagnosed in the United States for a number of reasons:

• Celiac symptoms can be attributed to other problems.
  
  
• Many doctors are not knowledgeable about the disease.
  
  
• Only a handful of U.S. laboratories are experienced and skilled in testing for celiac disease.
  
  

More research is needed to find out the true prevalence of celiac disease among Americans.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm