Celiac Disease (CD) is a lifelong, digestive disorder affecting children and adults. When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. Damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present.
Gluten is the common name for the proteins in specific grains that are harmful to persons with celiac disease. These proteins are found in ALL forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn and faro) and related grains rye, barley and triticale and MUST be eliminated.
When individuals with CD ingest gluten, the villi, tiny hair-like projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food, are damaged. This is due to an immunological reaction to gluten. Damaged villi do not effectively absorb basic nutrients -- proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and, in some cases, water and bile salts. If CD is left untreated, damage to the small bowel can be chronic and life threatening, causing an increased risk of associated disorders -- both nutritional and immune related.
Some long-term conditions that can result from untreated CD:
Iron deficiency anemia
Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia
Vitamin K deficiency associated with risk for hemorrhaging
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Central and peripheral nervous system disorders - usually due to unsuspected nutrient deficiencies
Pancreatic insufficiency
Intestinal lymphomas and other GI cancers (malignancies)
Neurological manifestations
Gall bladder malfunction
Other associated autoimmune disorders:
Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH)
Insulin-dependent Type I Diabetes Mellitus
Thyroid Disease
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Liver Diseases
Less commonly linked to CD:
Addison’s Disease
Chronic Active Hepatitis
Down Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Turner Syndrome
Williams Syndrome
Sjögren’s Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Alopecia Areata
Scleroderma
