Understanding the Gut Impact of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an inherent autoimmune disorder. It causes inflammation in your intestine and damages the inner layer of your small intestine, leading to long-term health issues.

The small intestine is the part where food nutrients are absorbed. Celiac disease can hinder this absorption process. In India, many people suffer from celiac disease and digestion issues, but most of them remain undiagnosed.

As per the Journal of Diabetology, people from Northern India are more prone to developing celiac than those from Southern India, due to the excessive intake of wheat.

Are you willing to find out more about celiac disease and digestion? Then keep reading.

What is Celiac Disease’s Impact on Digestion?

The inflammation caused by celiac disease impairs villi, a finger-like part situated on the internal surface of the small intestine. Villi maximise the nutrient absorption, passing nutrients from digested foods to the bloodstream.

The significant impairment of villi results in malabsorption. Eventually, it can lead to several serious digestive and other conditions, including:

1. Malnutrition

When the small intestine becomes unable to extract the essential vitamins and minerals from the food, it results in chronic deficiency. This deficiency leads to malnutrition, severe weight loss, and anaemia in the long run.

Malnutrition can affect the body at every level. In children, it can even stunt their growth and development. This is how celiac affects nutrient absorption.

2. Food Intolerance

The relentless disruption of your intestinal lining can cause food intolerance. You will lose the ability to digest certain foods. For example, suppose you have consumed a variety of dietary products and never faced any digestive issues, but you can suddenly become lactose intolerant due to celiac disease.

3. Weakened Immunity

Since celiac disease is an autoimmune condition, it makes you more prone to other autoimmune disorders. The longer you leave celiac untreated, the harder it becomes to treat. This is why it is important to reach out to a healthcare professional the moment you start noticing the digestive effects of celiac disease.

4. Liver Disease

Celiac disease can also cause liver problems. It starts with elevating the liver enzymes and can also lead to celiac hepatitis. It is a liver irritation sparked by the intestinal inflammation.

5. Collagenous Sprue 

Collagenous sprue is another intestinal disorder that coexists with celiac disease. Both conditions share similar symptoms, like weight loss and chronic diarrhoea. Similar to celiac disease, collagenous sprue is an immune-mediated health problem.

6. Cancer

Untreated celiac disease increases the risk of developing certain cancers, such as intestinal lymphomas and gastrointestinal cancers. Untreated celiac disease may increase the risk of certain gastrointestinal malignancies, although the absolute risk remains relatively low and varies across studies.

What are the Risk Factors of Celiac Disease?

If you have a family history of celiac disease, you are most likely to develop the condition. Other factors include:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Chromosomal conditions like Williams syndrome, Turner syndrome or Down syndrome
• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Addison’s disease
• Microscopic colitis

What are the Celiac Disease Digestive Symptoms?

Symptoms of celiac disease vary between children and adults. Some of the common digestive symptoms are:

• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating and gas
• Foul-smelling stool

Some of the non-digestive symptoms of celiac disease are:

• Anaemia
• Joint pain
• Mouth ulcer
• Blistery and itchy skin rash
• Cognitive disorders
• Numbness and tingling sensations in the legs
• Loss of mouth enamel and bone density.

Procedures for Testing Celiac Disease

Most physicians use either of the following 2 methods to diagnose celiac disease:

1. Blood Test

1. Serology Testing: This test looks for antibodies in your blood. Increased levels of certain proteins reflect an immune reaction to gluten.
2. Genetic Testing: This test identifies the existence of human leukocyte antigens to remove celiac disease.

2. Biopsy: To evaluate the damage in your small intestine, physicians may recommend a biopsy test. They will perform an endoscopic exam to extract the sample for biopsy.

If either of the above-mentioned tests indicates celiac disease, doctors may further recommend:

1. Endoscopy: Endoscopy involves a tiny camera on the end of a flexible tube to inspect the upper digestive tract. This helps gastroenterologists to examine the damaged area.
2. Capsule Endoscopy: In this process, patients have to swallow a vitamin-like capsule that includes a camera. As the capsule passes through your digestive tract, it continues to take pictures which help doctors to find out the damaged area.

How to Treat Celiac Disease?

The only way to celiac treatment is a gluten-free diet. Here are the foods that should be avoided strictly and the alternatives:

Apart from grains, if you are wondering what foods can be consumed in celiac disease, here are the details:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Beans, seeds and nuts
• Eggs
• Meat, fish and poultry
• Low-fat dairy products like plain milk and yoghurt

It is important to note that all the above-mentioned foods are gluten-free in their natural form. Their processed, frozen and blended forms might include gluten and trigger celiac disease and digestion problems. This is why it is suggested to consult with a nutritionist first for a proper diet plan.

Final Words

Summing up, celiac disease and digestion problems are correlated. If you are planning to cure your digestive disorders, first you have to switch to a gluten-free diet to treat celiac disease. Being a chronic intestinal inflammation, management of celiac disease requires multiple outpatient hospital visits or clinic appointments, increasing the overall treatment expense.

Reader information: This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Celiac disease symptoms and complications can vary among individuals. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation, testing, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. Do not start or stop any treatment or dietary plan based solely on the information provided in this article.

FAQs

1. Can celiac disease return after treatment?

Since celiac disease is not a completely curable condition, it can return if you consume gluten-rich food, even in small amounts.

2. What is the gut impact of celiac disease?

The gut impact of celiac disease often results in long-term complications in bowel movement, causing constipation, diarrhoea, and even bowel lymphoma if left untreated.

3. Does celiac disease cause a skin rash?

Yes, celiac disease can cause itchy, red, bumpy blisters on the skin, known as dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). It is also a result of gluten sensitivity.