SCR 16-CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH  3:24:43 PM CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business would be SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16, Proclaiming May 2012 to be Celiac Disease Awareness Month. 3:25:15 PM SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, stated that proposed SCR 16 would designate May 2012 as Celiac Disease Awareness Month. She explained that celiac disease, though often erroneously referred to as gluten intolerance, was a genetic disease in which exposure to gluten actually damaged the intestinal walls. She reported that gluten was a protein found on wheat, rye, and barley, and that 1 out of 133 Americans, more than 5,000 Alaskans, was estimated to have celiac disease, even though almost 97 percent were not aware of it. She shared that, as the symptoms were vague, often it was not immediately diagnosed. She pointed out that, as there was not a cure, only a strict gluten free diet could treat it. She reported that beer, cold cuts, soy sauce, and some cosmetics all contained gluten. 3:28:04 PM CHAIR KELLER expressed his appreciation for the proposed resolution. 3:28:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA shared that she also had celiac disease, and she offered her support for the proposed resolution. 3:28:47 PM BRANDY WENDLER, RN, Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, stated that she has celiac disease, possibly since her freshman year in high school, although it took ten years for her to get the diagnosis. She explained that the ingestion of gluten caused an auto-immune reaction, and in the small intestine this resulted in an inability to absorb nutrients from food. She shared that, even though she was in the medical field, she had not been able to get an appropriate diagnosis. She declared that the raising of awareness was "pivotal in saving people the suffering" and the money which resulted from mis-diagnosis. 3:30:59 PM TERESA NEENO, Allergist, Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Center of Alaska, said that, as numerous people had food allergies, diagnosis for celiac disease was often missed. She explained that the removal of gluten from the diet made the tests for celiac disease non-reactive. She declared that the raising of awareness for celiac disease would increase that conversation between providers and patients, and allow for earlier diagnosis. 3:32:18 PM CHAIR KELLER asked if it was celiac disease or its awareness that was increasing. He asked what was the cause for a genetic disorder. 3:33:09 PM DR. NEENO, in response to Representative Keller, said that the prevalence was not increasing, but that there was more awareness of the disease. She agreed that awareness allowed for earlier diagnosis, as the tests were then given. She pointed out that failure to have the tests could lead to more complications from other auto immune disorders, often seen in conjunction with celiac disease. She stated that, although these were different than allergies, food was a commonality to both. CHAIR KELLER expressed his surprise to the prevalence. DR. NEENO said that there were a lot of alternatives to diet, and there was a lot of information for gluten free products on line. 3:35:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked if celiac disease was more prevalent in Scandinavians. DR. NEENO replied that she was unaware of the prevalence in populations around the world, but that there was more gluten sensitivity in the northern tiers, such as the Irish. She declared it likely there was a selective advantage at some point in time. She shared that, although a genetic study was available, a positive test only increased the likelihood, as celiac disease was more common in Caucasian populations. She declared that celiac disease was clearly a genetic disease with some groups having a greater predisposition. 3:37:49 PM CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 3:38:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked about the connection of celiac disease in cosmetics. 3:38:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE DICK moved to report SCR 16 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, SCR 16 was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.