Celiac disease (CD) is a common condition that may begin in
childhood or adult life, in which the absorptive surface of the small
intestine is damaged in response to gluten. This condition is characterized
by chronic inflammation and atrophy of the intestinal
villi, which impair the digestion and absorption processes (Bingley
et al., 2004). Recent epidemiological studies have shown that CD is
one of the most common lifelong disorders, affecting about 1% of
the world population (Catassi & Yachha, 2008). Despite considerable
scientific progress in understanding CD and in preventing or
curing its manifestations, to date a strict gluten-free diet for life is
the only treatment for CD patients