Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease involves a  specific food component, gluten, causing an auto-immune reaction in the body. When Celiac patients eat gluten, the villi (tiny hair-like projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food) are damaged. Damaged villi do not effectively absorb basic nutrients – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and, in some cases, water and bile salts. If Celiac 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.

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Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease:

• Abdominal cramping, distention, bloating, and gas
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both)
• Steatorrhea (fatty stools)
• Iron deficiency or B Vitamin/Folic acid Anemia
• Unexplained weight loss
• Increased Appetite and Weight Gain
• Dental enamel defects
• Osteopenia, osteoporosis
• Bone or joint pain
• Fatigue, weakness and lack of energy
• Infertility – male/female
• Depression
• Mouth ulcers
• Delayed puberty
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Migraine headaches

Associated Autoimmune Disorders

Insulin-dependent Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Liver diseases, Thyroid Disease-Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Lupus (SLE), Addison’s Disease, Chronic Active Hepatitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Turner Syndrome, Sjögren’s Syndrome, Raynaud’s Syndrome, Alopecia Areata and Scleroderma

Other Disorders Linked with Celiac Disease

Down Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism, and Multiple Sclerosis.