The Health Ministry will cooperate with the Iranian Celiac Association in screening and identification of people suffering from celiac disease, said Seyed Mohammad Hadi Ayazi, deputy minister of health in social affairs, on the sidelines of a conference on celiac disease held at Tehran’s Shariati Hospital, on Thursday. The Association was launched three years ago with the aim to raise people’s awareness of the disease. “The next measure which should be taken to help the patients is production of special gluten-free products for them. At present, there are only lactose-free products in the market,” IRNA quoted him as saying. People with celiac disease show intolerance to wheat and gluten products and require a specific diet. At least 700,000 people are said to be suffering from the disease in Iran. The main symptom of the disease is diarrhea. Other symptoms include bloating, gas, fatigue, low blood count (anemia) and osteoporosis.
