Celiac Disease Information: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Dietary Guidelines, and Treatment Options
In a world where processed foods are commonplace, it's essential to be aware of hidden gluten in our diets. Many everyday items, such as canned soups, salad dressings, soy sauces, and even ice cream, can contain gluten. Fortunately, gluten-free alternatives exist for staples like pasta, bread, and baked goods. However, it's not just food that may contain gluten; some prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamin products, toothpaste, cosmetics, and postage stamps also contain the protein.
Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that negatively responds to gluten found in wheat and other grains, affects around 1 in 100 people worldwide. While it can develop in anyone, it is more common in white Americans and females. It also runs in families, with a 1 in 10 chance for a person with a parent or sibling who has celiac disease. As many as 2.5 million people in the United States may be undiagnosed.
Untreated celiac disease can lead to significant long-term complications. Chronic inflammation damages the small intestine's villi, impairing nutrient absorption, which can cause deficiencies in iron, calcium, folate, vitamin B12, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). This leads to anemia and metabolic bone disease like osteoporosis.
Deficiencies can result in malnutrition-related issues, including anemia, osteoporosis, delayed growth and puberty in children, and miscarriage or infertility in adults. Persistent inflammation can also predispose to other gut complications, such as lactose intolerance and potentially more serious intestinal damage that may not fully recover even after a gluten-free diet.
Undiagnosed celiac disease increases the risk of certain cancers, including intestinal lymphoma and bowel cancer. Beyond the digestive tract, patients may experience fatigue, depression, neurological symptoms, arthritis, skin rashes, and liver disease. Pregnancy complications, such as subfertility, miscarriage, and low birth weight babies, have also been associated with untreated celiac disease.
Early recognition and treatment are critical to prevent these serious outcomes. Switching to a gluten-free diet greatly improves symptoms for most people with celiac disease, and the small intestine usually heals within weeks in children and several years in adults. Manufacturers must label a food product as gluten-free if it contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
In some parts of the world, having a gluten-free diet is easier than ever due to the increasing availability of gluten-free options. However, regulations about labeling vary from country to country while traveling. A gluten-free diet can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer associated with celiac disease.
Foods that do not contain gluten include meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, rice, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, and some cereals like corn, millet, sorghum, and teff. Symptoms of celiac disease can range from mild to severe and vary from person to person. They include digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and chronic diarrhea or constipation, as well as non-digestive symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, depression, and joint pain. Children with celiac disease may experience developmental or growth problems, including failure to thrive, delayed growth and short height, weight loss, damaged tooth enamel, and mood changes.
In conclusion, managing celiac disease is crucial to prevent long-term complications. Early diagnosis, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet, and regular medical check-ups can help control symptoms and improve overall health.
- Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, negatively responds to gluten in wheat and other grains.
- Approximately 1 in 100 people globally have celiac disease.
- It's more common in white Americans and females, and it often runs in families.
- Untreated celiac disease can lead to significant long-term complications.
- Chronic inflammation damages the small intestine's villi, impairing nutrient absorption.
- Deficiencies in iron, calcium, folate, vitamin B12, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) can result from this impairment.
- Anemia and metabolic bone disease like osteoporosis are outcomes of these deficiencies.
- Malnutrition-related issues, such as delayed growth and puberty in children, infertility, and miscarriage in adults, can occur due to deficiencies.
- Persistent inflammation can also predispose to other gut complications like lactose intolerance.
- Undiagnosed celiac disease increases the risk of certain cancers, such as intestinal lymphoma and bowel cancer.
- Beyond the digestive tract, patients may experience fatigue, depression, neurological symptoms, arthritis, skin rashes, and liver disease.
- Pregnancy complications like subfertility, miscarriage, and low birth weight babies have been associated with untreated celiac disease.
- Early recognition and treatment are critical to prevent these serious outcomes.
- Switching to a gluten-free diet greatly improves symptoms for most people with celiac disease.
- Manufacturers must label a food product as gluten-free if it contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
- Having a gluten-free diet can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer associated with celiac disease.
- Foods that do not contain gluten include meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, rice, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, and some cereals like corn, millet, sorghum, and teff.
- Symptoms of celiac disease can range from mild to severe and vary from person to person.
- In conclusion, managing celiac disease is crucial to prevent long-term complications. Regular medical check-ups, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet, and early diagnosis can help control symptoms and improve overall health.
